Photovoltaic cells are made up of
2023
Photovoltaic cells are made up of
Answer: C. a combination of p and n type of semiconductor — ConceptA photovoltaic cell is a semiconductor junction device that converts light energy into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. When light…
- A.
p-type of semiconductor only
- B.
n-type of semiconductor only
- C.
a combination of p and n type of semiconductor
- D.
Neither p nor n type of semiconductor
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
A photovoltaic cell is a semiconductor junction device that converts light energy into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect.
When light creates electron–hole pairs near a p–n junction, the junction’s built-in electric field separates the charges and enables current through an external circuit.
Application
The required structure therefore contains adjoining p-type and n-type semiconductor regions. Their interface forms the depletion region and internal field needed for charge separation.
Contrast
A p-type-only layer has holes as majority carriers but does not provide a p–n interface.
An n-type-only layer has electrons as majority carriers but does not provide a p–n interface.
A combination of p-type and n-type regions forms the junction and its built-in field.
A structure with neither p-type nor n-type regions does not supply the standard p–n junction used for photovoltaic conversion.
Thus, a photovoltaic cell is made from a combination of p-type and n-type semiconductor regions.