photovoltaic effect

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the phenomenon in which the incidence of light or other electromagnetic radiation upon the junction of two dissimilar materials, as a metal and a semiconductor, induces the generation of an electromotive force.

---

photovoltaic effect British  

noun

1. the effect observed when electromagnetic radiation, esp visibile light from the sun, falls on a thin film of one solid deposited on the surface of a dissimilar solid producing a difference in potential between the two materials

---

Etymology

Origin of photovoltaic effect

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

The photovoltaic effect isn't new.

From BBC

This conversion of solar energy into electricity is known as the photovoltaic effect.

From Nature

Under illumination, electron–hole pairs are produced and separated because of a phenomenon called the bulk photovoltaic effect, generating an electric current.

From Nature

The authors found that, whereas the monolayer and bilayer devices generated a negligible electric current under illumination, the nanotube device exhibited a large photovoltaic effect.

From Nature

Mutual photoluminescence quenching and photovoltaic effect in large-area single-layer MoS2–polymer heterojunctions.

From Nature