Understanding solar cell band diagram

[Hamidreza]

Hi everyone, I have been studying the physics of solar cells for a long time. The only thing that I can not completely understand is the physical operation of solar cell based on band diagram.
Can anyone briefly explain the movements of carriers from one electrode to the another based on band diagram?

 

[jedishrfu]

This article has some discussion on it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_solar_cells

 

[scottdave]

Sometimes Wikipedia does pretty good. I like the animation.
Here's another article. Not very technical, but gives an idea of what is going on.
https://www.livescience.com/41995-how-do-solar-panels-work.html

 

[Vagn]

Hi everyone, I have been studying the physics of solar cells for a long time. The only thing that I can not completely understand is the physical operation of solar cell based on band diagram.
Can anyone briefly explain the movements of carriers from one electrode to the another based on band diagram?
View attachment 221819
View attachment 221820

The 'cell' you have included with your post is not a single cell, but is in fact a multi-junction solar cell. The InGaP cell up to the tunnel diode acts as one photovoltaic cell, and the GaAs cell after the tunnel diode acts as a second cell.