Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell

Presented by

S.Vishal
S. Goutham
Syed Ishthiyag Ahmed
XII B

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that, ______________________ student of

Class XII __, Chennai Public School, Anna Nagar, has
completed the project titled _______________________
during the academic year 2016-17 towards partial
fulfillment of credit for the AISSCE Physics Practical
Evaluation, under my supervision.

_______________
Mr. Asuvathaman A
Physics Teacher

_______________
External Examiner

_______________________
Mrs. Asha Nathan
Principal

School Seal

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell
Index

Aim
Apparatus required
Construction
Concept
Idea behind
Wave length & Energy
Wave length & Current
Analysis
Observation
Conclusion
Acknowledgment

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell

Aim
To

find the effect of wavelength of

visible light on photovoltaic cell
electricity generation
To chart the current generation under
each colour of light

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell

Apparatus required
1. Photovoltaic cell panel 12W capacity
2. Flash Lights
3. Cellophane papers to filter light ray
(Red, Blue,Yellow colour)
4. LED Lamps/ lights
5. Wires to connect the Panel and Lamps
6. Ammeter

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell

In

this proect, we explore the effect of

the colour of light on a photovoltaic
cell/ panel.
We limited the wavelength of light
received by the panel.
The current generated were measured
with respect to wavelength of each
colour

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell

Construction details
The solar panel containing photo voltaic
cells shall be placed under the sun allowing
the sun light fall on it directly and flash lights
shall be used to generate light rays and focus
on solar panel in case of poor sun light.
The LED lamps/ lights shall be connected to
the outlet cables so as to pass the generated
electricity from the panel to LED lights and
to make it glow.
Place the cellophane filters between the
source of light [sun or flash light] and the
solar panel in order to change the colour of
light ray and thus to change the length of
visible light wave.

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell

Concept
The light has energy
particles called photons.
When light strikes the
solar cell, the atoms of it
absorbs energy and its
electrons gain energy
from photons and get
accelerated.
They move toward the
front
surface.
An
electron imbalance is
created between the
front and back. When
the two surfaces are
joined by a wire, a
current of electricity
travels between two
sides
(negative
and
positive).

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell

Idea behind

Visible light is a very small part of the

electromagnetic spectrum and its waves
measure between 700 and 400 nanometers.

The relationship between the energy of a

photon and the wavelength of light is
inverse; as the wavelength of light
increases, energy decreases.

In the visible light spectrum, the energy of

photons ranges from roughly 1.65 eV to 3.1
eV. The corresponding wavelengths of these
energies are 700 and 400 nanometer
respectively. These wavelengths correspond
to the red and violet ends of the spectrum
of visible light.

A photovoltaic cell responds selectively to

light wavelengths. Those much longer than
700 nanometers lack the energy to affect
the cell and simply pass through it. Very
short wavelengths pass through the cell
because their energy is too high to be
absorbed.

HOW THE WAVELENGTH OF

LIGHT AFFECTS A SOLAR CELL

Cover the solar cell with a color

transparency film, cellophane paper.
Count the number of LED lights that
glow. Record it in a chart similar to
the one below.
Repeat the experiment with the
other colors of transparency film
Photon

Colour

Wave length

Frequency

Violet

380450 nm

668789 THz

2.753.26 eV

Blue

450495 nm

606668 THz

2.502.75 eV

Green

495570 nm

526606 THz

2.172.50 eV

Yellow

570590 nm

508526 THz

2.102.17 eV

Orange

590620 nm

484508 THz

2.002.10 eV

Red

620750 nm

400484 THz

1.652.00 eV

Energy

Table showing effect of

wavelength on current
Colour

Wave
length
nm

Current
- I mA

Current
- II mA

Average
mA

Direct

---

40

40

40

Violet

380

28

33

30.5

Indigo

400

26

30

28

Blue

500

25

28

26.5

Green

550

22

24

23

Yellow

575

29

33

31

Orange

600

30

35

32.5

Red

700

30

35

32.5

Chart showing effect of

wavelength on current
40

Test - 2

35

Average
Test - 1

30

25

20

15

10

0
V

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell
Analysis

How does generation of

current, of the solar cell, change
when it is covered with colour
transparency film?

Which colors increased ampere?

Which
current?

colors

decreased

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell
Observation
As a general trend, more ampere of current
measured when light of a longer wave length fell
on panel which means greater amount of
electricity is generated.
Discussion

Why higher energy wave generates low current?

A typical silicon solar cell requires 1.1 eV in order

for electrons to flow out of the cell and through
the circuitry of the solar panel system.
This 1.1 eV of energy corresponds to photons in
the infrared range of the spectrum with a
wavelength of roughly 1,127 nanometers.
At energies lower than 1.1 eV, photons do not have
enough energy to dislodge electrons.
At shorter wavelengths and higher energies, silicon
electrons will get energized and current will flow.
However, shorter wavelengths and higher photon
energies do not correspond with an increase in
electrical current.
When a photon of much higher energy impacts a
solar cell, energy above 1.1 eV is given off as heat.

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell

Conclusion
Contrary to popular belief, longer wave
lengths of visible light with less photon
energy are more efficient with PV cells
than the shorter wave lengths.
However, violet rays did not follow the
trend.
It also signifies that the relationship
between wavelength and current may
not be linear

Effect of Wave length

of Light on Solar Cell
Resources
http://www.suntoy.co.za/downloads/ColourFilters_Kati
eFitzgerald.pdf
http://classroom.synonym.com/effect-wavelengthphotovoltaic-cells-6957.html
http://cssf.usc.edu/History/2004/Projects/S0715.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/denergysystems/labs/lab3-effect-of-colored-light-on-power-output-of-solarpanel

Thank You