Solar Cell

A p‑n junction solar cell converts incident light into electrical energy without a battery. The simulation shows the cell, its contacts and the external load, and plots the current‑voltage (I‑V) characteristic as the operating point moves.

Students can change the light source (white sunlight or a single wavelength) and its intensity, select a material preset (Si, GaAs, CdTe or a user‑defined band gap), and adjust the load resistance from short‑circuit to open‑circuit. A “maximum power” button highlights the point of highest power output, and a microscopic view reveals carrier motion.

By exploring these parameters, learners see how the photovoltaic effect, band‑gap energy, and load matching determine the shape of the I‑V curve and the cell’s efficiency, reinforcing concepts of current electricity and modern semiconductor physics.