The silicon solar cell
Daryl ChapinCalvin FullerGerald Pearson
This page delivers no verdict; it presents claims and evidence with their sources. No theory in science is absolute. Method
For everyone
In 1954 Bell Laboratories introduced the first practical silicon solar cell, converting sunlight directly into electricity with about 6% efficiency. Solar panels are now the world's fastest-growing source of electricity. In 2025 solar alone met more than a quarter of the growth in global energy demand.
For specialists
The photovoltaic effect (Becquerel 1839) produces current as the built-in field of a p–n junction separates electron–hole pairs created by absorbed photons. The theoretical efficiency limit for single-junction cells is the Shockley–Queisser limit (about 33%). Laboratory efficiencies of perovskite/silicon tandem cells have exceeded 30%.
Claims
- A silicon p–n junction can convert sunlight directly into electricity.[1]
Evidence
Connections
Sources
- Article (1954). A new silicon p-n junction photocell for converting solar radiation into electrical power. Journal of Applied Physics 25, 676–677DOI 10.1063/1.1721711archive
- Article (1961). Detailed balance limit of efficiency of p-n junction solar cells. Journal of Applied Physics 32, 510–519DOI 10.1063/1.1736034archive
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Cite this page
Athena contributors. (2026). The silicon solar cell. Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/gunes-pili/
@misc{athena_gunes_pili,
title = {The silicon solar cell},
author = {{Athena contributors}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/gunes-pili/}},
note = {Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Accessed: 2026-11-01}
}Added: September 27, 2026 · Last changed: September 27, 2026 · Page history