MAHARISHI VIDYA MANDIR SENIOR

SEC. SCHOOL POLACHERY

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT

TOPIC: SOLAR CELL

NAME: K. HARESH

ACADEMIC YEAR: 2024-2025

CLASS: XII A2

ROLL NO:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to

everyone who supported me throughout the
completion of this project. Your blessings and
encouragement have meant the world to me.
A special thanks to my principal, Ms. M.U.
Parimala Amudhan , and my physics teacher,
Ms. Amutha.A. Their valuable guidance and
insightful suggestions were instrumental in
shaping this project and ensuring its success. I
truly appreciate their support and mentorship

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 CONTENTS

S.No. Title Page No.

1 Introduction
2 Aim
3 Apparatus Required
4 Procedure
5 Observations
6 Precautions
7 Conclusion
8 Applications of Solar Cells
9 Summary
10 Bibliography

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 INTRODUCTION

Solar cell is a key device that converts the light

energy into the electrical energy

in photovoltaic energy conversion. In most cases,

semiconductor is used for solar cell material. The

energy conversion consists of absorption of light

(photon) energy producing electron–hole pairs in a

semiconductor and charge carrier separation. A p–n

junction is used for charge carrier separation in most

cases

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Introduction to
C ells

Solar cells are devices that

convert sunlight directly into

electricity using the

photovoltaic effect. Solar

panels are comprised of

many individual solar cells,

working together to

generate power.
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 What is a Solar Cell?

Sem iconductor Material

Photovoltaic Effect Energ y C onversion

Solar cells are
m ade of silicon, a
sem iconductor
that can conduct
electricity under
They work by absorbing Solar cells capture
conditions.
absorbing sunlight, energ y and convert
which excites electrons into electricity. The
electrons in the efficiency of this
semiconductor process depends on
material, generating an type of m aterial
an electric current. and other factors.

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The Photovoltaic Effect

Photon Absorption

Sunlight consists of photons, tiny

packets of energy. These photons are
are absorbed by the semiconductor
semiconductor material in the solar
solar cell.

Electron Excitation

The absorbed energy excites

in the semiconductor, allowing
move freely, creating an electric
current.

C urrent Generation

The flow of these excited electrons

electrons creates an electrical current,
current, which can be harnessed to
to power devices.

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 Silicon-based Solar Cells

Crystalline Silicon Amorphous Silicon

The most common type of Thin-film solar cells are

solar cell, it has a high less expensive to
efficiency but can be manufacture, but with
expensive. lower efficiency than
crystalline silicon.

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Other Types of Solar Cells

Dye-
Thin-Film Solar Cells Solar Cells

These solar
cells are These cells
made of thin use a dye to
layers of absorb
semiconduct sunlight and
or materials, create an
making electric
them current, and
lightweight can be
and flexible. manufacture
d at low cost.

Organic Solar Cells

These cells are made from

organic materials, offering
potential for flexible and low-
cost applications.

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Factors Affecting Solar C ell
Perform ance

Sunlig ht Intensity
1
Solar cells produce m ore
under brig ht sunlig ht, and less
cloudy or overcast conditions.

2
Tem perature

High temperatures can reduce the

the efficiency of solar cells, while lower
lower temperatures generally improve
improve performance.

Shading
3
Shading can sig nificantly reduce
the output of solar cells, as even
partial shading can im pact the
panel.

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Solar Cell Manufacturing
ManufacturingProcess

Silicon Crystal Growth Wafer Processing

Silicon crystals The silicon

are grown, wafers are
either in ingots cleaned,
ingots or wafers, polished, and
wafers, which textured to
are then sliced improve light
into thin pieces. absorption.
pieces.

Doping and Diffusion Metallization

Impurities are Electrical
added to the contacts are
silicon to applied to the
p-type and n- solar cell,
type regions, allowing the
forming a p-n current to flow
junction. to an external
circuit.
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Applications of Solar Cells

Residential Power Electric Vehicles Portable Devices

Solar cells can Solar panels can Sm all solar

be used to can be can power a
g enerate integrated into variety of
electricity for into electric portable
hom es, vehicles to like
reducing supplement watches, and
reliance on their battery even sm all
g rid. power. appliances.

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 The Future of Solar C ell
Technolog y

Increased Efficiency N ew Materials Integ ration and

Integ ration

1 2 Researchers 3 Solar cells are

Research is
continuously exploring becoming
underway to materials and increasingly
improve the technologies integrated into
efficiency of that can into building
solar cells, with enhance the materials,
with the aim of performance vehicles, and
of achieving solar cells and even clothing,
higher power reduce opening up new
output for the manufacturin new
same amount costs. possibilities for
of sunlight. for solar
energy.

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 AIM

A solar cell, also known as a

photovoltaic (PV) cell, converts sunlight
into electricity through the following
steps:
1. Absorb light When sunlight hits a
solar cell, the semiconductor material
absorbs the light's energy.
2. Create an electric field the energy
from the light creates an electric field in
the cell, which energizes the different
layers of the cell.
3. Move electrons the electrons in the
cell are energized and move through the
material, creating an electrical current.
4. Extract current the current is
extracted through metal contacts on the
cell and can be used to power devices
or the electric grid. preencoded.png
APPARATUS REQUIRED

❖ VARIABLE DC POWER
SUPPLY

❖ LED[LIGHT EMITTING DIODE]

❖ SOLAR CELL

❖ AMMETER

❖ VOLTMETER

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 THEORY
The theory of solar cell explains the process by

which light energy in photons is converted into

electric current when the photons strike a suitable

semiconductor device. The theoretical studies are of

practical use because they predict the fundamental

limits of a solar cell, and give guidance on the

phenomena that contribute to losses and solar cell

efficiency.

when a photon is absorbed, its energy is given to an

electron in the crystal lattice. Usually this electron is

in the valence band. The energy given to the electron

by the photon "excites" it into the conduction band

where it is free to move around within the

semiconductor. The network of covalent bonds that

the electron was previously a part of now has one

fewer electron. This is known as a hole, and it has

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positive charge..
 OBSERVATION

SOLAR VOLTAGE CURRENT POWER

CELL [VOLT] [OHM] [WATT]
ANGLE

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 SUMMARY

Solar cell, Any device that directly converts the

energy In light into electrical energy through the
process of photo voltaic (see photovoltaic effect;
solar energy). Solar cells do not use chemical
reactions to produce electric power, and they have
no moving parts. Most solar cells are designed for
converting sunlight into electricity. In large arrays,
which may contain many thousands of individual
cells, they can function as central electric power
stations analogous to nuclear or coal- or oil-fired
power plants. Much smaller assemblies of solar cells
are used to provide electric power in remote
locations including space satellites; because they
have no moving parts that could require service or
fuels that would require replenishment, solar cells
are ideal for providing power in space.

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 PROCEDURE

When light shines on a photovoltaic (PV) cell –

also called a solar cell – that light may be
reflected, absorbed, or pass right through the
cell.
PV cell is composed of semiconductor
material; the “semi” means that it can conduct
electricity better than an insulator but not as
well as a good conductor like a metal.
are several different semiconductor materials
used in PV cells.
When the semiconductor is exposed to light, it
absorbs the light’s energy and transfers it to
negatively charged particles in the material
called electrons.
This extra energy allows the electrons to flow
through the material as an electrical current.
This current is extracted through conductive
metal contacts
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 PRECAUTION

❑ Make sure the roof is in working shape

❑ Make sure you have enough roof space

for the panels to sit on

❑ Ensure that the property isn’t in a flood

zone

❑ Check if your property has enough sun

exposure

❑ Find out your state’s net metering rules

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 CONCLUSION

One of the acute challenges is the

reliability of India’s power grid in cities,
which reduces the need for backup
sources like diesel generators. It results
in a lack of interest in rooftop solar
panels, often imported, expensive, and
not worth the investment for individual
households.
Now the question arises, are you tired of
not having access to all the relevant and
accurate information about solar energy
in one place? Have you faced hidden
costs and a lack of transparency in your
solar energy journey?

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 APPLICATIONS

Solar Water Heating. Harnessing the sun's

energy fro everyday tasks is environmentally

friendly and cost-effective.
Solar Electricity. This solar energy

application has gained a lot of momentum in

recent years.
Solar energy, derived from the sun's

photons, can be converted into electricity

using photovoltaic cells
Solar-Pumping. Imagine harnessing the

power of the sun to fuel water pump

eliminating the need for grid
electricity or diesel.
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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

➢ WIKIPEDIA

➢ CHATGPT

➢SEMINARSONLYCOM

➢ PHYSICS

NCERTTEXT BOOK

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