Can Different Color Combinations Affect the Power Output of a Photovoltaic Cell?

[alvintm]

I am considering writing a formal essay on the photovoltaic effect, and I wanted to investigate
the power or voltage output (I'm not sure which one yet) of a photovoltaic cell with respect to different color combination.
Would anyone be kind enough to let me Know whether this will work, and how I can carry out the experiments.

 

[pallidin]

Considerable research has and is being conducted on optimizing the photo-voltaic effect.

My suggestion would be to Google your key terms. Be prepared for many hours of extraordinary readings; there is a lot of effort being done in this fascinating field of study.

 

[berkeman]

I am considering writing a formal essay on the photovoltaic effect, and I wanted to investigate
the power or voltage output (I'm not sure which one yet) of a photovoltaic cell with respect to different color combination.
Would anyone be kind enough to let me Know whether this will work, and how I can carry out the experiments.

The wikipedia article is a good starting place: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_cells

Lots of discussion and web pointers concerning efficiency...

 

[alvintm]

Thanks a lot guys.

Does anyone have any ideas of how I might do the respective combinations of the color of light when I project them onto the solar cell?