solar cell

American  

noun

1. a photovoltaic cell that converts sunlight directly into electricity.

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solar cell British  

noun

1. a photovoltaic cell that produces electricity from the sun's rays, used esp in spacecraft

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solar cell Scientific  

1. A photoelectric cell designed to convert sunlight into electrical energy, typically consisting of layers or sheets of specially prepared silicon. Electrons, displaced through the photoelectric effect by the Sun's radiant energy in one layer, flow across a junction to the other layer, creating a voltage across the layers that can provide power to an external circuit. Solar cells are used as power supplies in calculators, satellites, and other devices, and as a primary source of electricity in remote locations.

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Example Sentences

India already has markets for glass and aluminium, and metals found in solar cells - silicon, silver, and copper - can be recovered for new panels or other industries, says Akansha Tyagi, co-author of the study.

From BBC

Putting data centers into Earth orbit powered by a large solar cell array would give the chips 24-hour access to the sun’s energy if the satellite is in what is called sun-synchronous orbit.

From Los Angeles Times

The company is also planning to build a factory to make solar cells, a building block of panels.

From Barron's

It has invested in technology aimed at converting the dusty material on the lunar surface into solar cells, power-transmission wire and other resources that would facilitate long-term stays there.

From The Wall Street Journal

Because of these qualities, graphene is considered a "miracle material" and is already being explored for flexible electronic screens, highly sensitive sensors, advanced batteries, and next-generation solar cells.

From Science Daily