Three key elements in a solar cell
Three key elements in a solar cell form the basis of their manufacturing technology.
The first key element in a solar cell is the semiconductor, which absorbs sunlight and converts it into electron-hole pairs.
The second in a solar cell is the semiconductor junction, which separates the photo-generated carriers (electrons and holes).
The third key element in a solar cell is the contacts on the front and back of the cell that allow the current to flow to the external circuit. The two main categories of technology are defined by the choice of the semiconductor: either crystalline silicon in a wafer form or thin films of other materials.
