Wa0009.

MODULE 4.
2
photoelectric transducer (Photodiode, Solar Cell)
Solar Cell
• It is a device which converts the light energy into electrical energy.
• When light is allowed to fall on this cell, the cell generates a voltage
across its terminals.
• This voltage increase with increase in the light intensity.
• The cell is so designed that a large area is exposed to light which
enhances the voltage generation across the two terminals of the cell.
• Construction and working is explained below.
Construction and Working Of Solar Cell
• It essentially consists of a silicon PN junction diode with a glass

window on top surface layer of P material is made extremely thin so,
that incident light photon’s may easily reach the PN junction.
• When these photons collide with valence electrons they attain
sufficient energy to leave their parent atoms.
• In this way free electrons and holes are generated on both sides of
the junction. Due to these holes and electrons current are produced.
• This current is directly proportional to the illumination’s (mw/cm2)
and also depends on the size of the surface area being illuminated.
• Solar cell is like an ordinary diode. It consist of silicon or
germanium PN junction with glass windows on the top surface
layer of P-Type, the P-Type material is made very thin and wide
so that the incident light photon may easily reach to PN
junction.
• The nickel plated ring around the P layer acts as the positive
output terminal’s (anode) and the metal contact at the bottom
acts as a Cathode.
• Silicon and germanium are the most widely used
semiconductors materials for solar cells although gallium
arsenide, Indium arsenide and Cadmium arsenide are also
being used nowadays.
How does a Solar Cells work?
• A solar cell is a sandwich of n-type silicon and p-type silicon
. It generates electricity by using sunlight to make electrons
hop across the junction.
• When sunlight shines on the cell, photons (light particles)
bombard the upper surface.
• The photons carry their energy down through the cell.
• The photons give up their energy to electrons in the lower, p-
type layer.
• The electrons use this energy to jump across the barrier into
the upper, n-type layer and escape out into the circuit.
• What is the well known use of a Solar Cell?
• Solar cells are very useful in powering space vehicles
such as satellites and telescopes (e.g. Hubble).
• They provide a very economical and reliable way of
powering objects which would otherwise need expensive
and cumbersome fuel sources.
What is Photodiode?
• A photodiode is a PN-junction diode that consumes light
energy to produce an electric current.
• They are also called a photo-detector, a light detector,
and a photo-sensor.
• Photodiodes are designed to work in reverse bias
condition.
• Typical photodiode materials are Silicon, Germanium
and Indium gallium arsenide.
Symbol of Photodiode
• The symbol of the photodiode is similar to that of an LED but
the arrows point inwards as opposed to outwards in the LED.
The following image shows the symbol of a photodiode.
Photodiode Working
• A photodiode is subjected to photons in the form of light which affects
the generation of electron-hole pairs.
• If the energy of the falling photons (hv) is greater than the energy gap
(Eg) of the semiconductor material, electron-hole pairs are created near
the depletion region of the diode.
• The electron-hole pairs created are separated from each other before
recombining due to the electric field of the junction.
• The direction of the electric field in the diode forces the electrons to
move towards the n-side and consequently the holes move towards the
p-side.
• As a result of the increase in the number of electrons on the n-side and
holes on the p-side, a rise in the electromotive force is observed.
• Now when an external load is connected to the system, a current flow
is observed through it.
• The more the electromotive force created, the greater the current flow.
Photodiode Working
• The magnitude of the electromotive force created depends
directly upon the intensity of the incident light.
• This effect of the proportional change in photocurrent with
the change in light intensity can be easily observed by
applying a reverse bias.
• Since photodiodes generate current flow directly
depending upon the light intensity received, they can be
used as photodetectors to detect optical signals.
• Built-in lenses and optical filters may be used to enhance
the power and productivity of a photodiode.
Working of a Photodiode
• Generally, when a light is made to illuminate the PN junction,
covalent bonds are ionized.
• This generates hole and electron pairs. Photocurrents are
produced due to generation of electron-hole pairs.
• Electron hole pairs are formed when photons of energy
more than 1.1eV hits the diode.
• When the photon enters the depletion region of diode, it
hits the atom with high energy.
• This results in release of electron from atom structure.
• After the electron release, free electrons and hole are
produced.
Applications of Photodiode
• Photodiodes are used in simple day-to-day applications. The reason for
their prominent use is their linear response of photodiode to light
illumination.
• Photodiodes are used in safety electronics such as fire and smoke
detectors.
• Photodiodes are used in numerous medical applications. They are used in
instruments that analyze samples, detectors for computed tomography
and also used in blood gas monitors.
• Photodiodes are used in logic circuits.
• Photodiodes are used in the detection circuits.
• Photodiodes are used in character recognition circuits.
• Photodiodes are used for the exact measurement of the intensity of light
in science and industry.
• Photodiodes are faster and more complex than normal PN junction diodes
and hence are frequently used for lighting regulation and optical
communication.

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MODULE 4.

• It essentially consists of a silicon PN junction diode with a glass

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