Photons as Working Body for Photovoltaic Devices: Conversion of Photon to Electron from a Simplified Perspective

ABSTRACT In this work two models to study the photovoltaic response of solar cells are reported. The first model is the hybrid model developed that relates the electrical and quantum parameters and this model considers the bandgap effect, as well as voltage and current at the point of maximum electrical output power of the photovoltaic solar cell to quantify the conversion of photons into electrons makes up the photocurrent in maximum electrical output power condition. For monochromatic light with a wavelength of 470 nm, the photons rate about 1.0783 × 10 17 photons s −1 on the cell result in the electron generation rate of 1.2653 × 10 16 electrons s −1 , while 4.3134 × 10 17 photons s −1 generates 5.4216 × 10 16 electrons s −1 . The second model quantifies directly the photocurrent in the short circuit condition from the energy density of light or irradiance incident on the cell. Additionally, the second model is also explored in the application of the cell as a photometer to estimate the amount of light emitted from computer and cell phone screens. In this way, both models help to understand how efficiently a photovoltaic solar cell converts absorbed photons into electrons that contribute to the photocurrent.