photovoltaic cell 

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04659
A solid state device, usually a semiconductor such as silicon, which absorbs photons with energies higher than or equal to the bandgap energy and simultaneously produces electric power.
See also: photogalvanic cell
Sources:
PAC, 1991, 63, 569. (Terminology in semiconductor electrochemistry and photoelectrochemical energy conversion (Recommendations 1991)) on page 593 [Terms] [Paper]
PAC, 1996, 68, 2223. (Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)) on page 2265 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'photovoltaic cell' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04659 RIS BibTex EndNote
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Last revised: February 24, 2014