2. Anatomy of a photovoltaic cell

Once this radiation has reached the ground, it needs to be converted into electricity. This is done in a photovoltaic cell.

Photovoltaic cells can be based on inorganic or organic materials. Here, we'll focus on inorganic cells based on semiconductors.

Schematically, semiconductor-based photovoltaic cells consist of a pn junction, where light is converted into electricity, and electrical contacts to recover the charges generated. These cells are coated with a protective layer that acts as an anti-reflection layer and is deposited on a substrate that is responsible for the cell's mechanical properties. This description will be explained in greater detail in 2.1.2