Question

how are the photovoltaic cells used for the solar panels similar to voltaic cells? How are they different?

Answer 1

Photovoltaic cells (semiconducting material based on silicon or germanium) directly converts the light energy into electrical energy, whereas Voltaic cells converts chemical energy into electrical energy.

In photovoltaic cells a number of solar cells are connected to each other (serial method NOT parallel method) and mounted in a support structure or frame is called a photovoltaic module. Modules are designed to supply electricity at a certain voltage, such as a common 12 volts system. The current produced is directly dependent on how much light strikes the module.

In Voltaic cells also the same thing happen, but as long as chemical reaction is completed the voltaic cell no longer produces electricity unless if the voltaic cell is recharged (reversible voltaic cells or secondary voltaic cells), whereas photovoltaic cells requires only light energy and non-reversible (electrical energy cannot be converted into light energy).

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