Name: Tara
Status: Student
Grade: 6-8
Location: CO
Country: United States
Date: November 2007
Question:
What are the different colors of
photovoltaic solar cells and what part do they play?
Is there a most commonly used color of
photovoltaics?
Replies:
Hi Tara,
The color of photovoltaic cells has no particular connection
with their power output. You may have seen different colors
with different types or brands of photovoltaic cells, but
this is simply a result of their particular manufacturing
process, and has no direct bearing on the cell's output.
Certainly, photovoltaic cells are more sensitive to some
colors than others, meaning that they will generate more
power when certain colors of light are used than others, but
there is nothing to be gained by filtering out the colors
they are not sensitive to. Most photovoltaics appear blue or
slightly purplish in color, but that is simply a result of
the treatment given to the silicon they are made from and is
not a deliberate attempt to make them that color.
NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.
