SELENIUM CELL Meaning and
Definition
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A selenium cell refers to a type of photovoltaic (PV) cell or photoelectric device that utilizes selenium, a chemical element with the symbol Se and atomic number 34, to convert light energy into electrical energy. It is a specific type of photoconductive cell that falls under the broader category of thin film solar cells.
Selenium cells consist of a thin layer of selenium, along with other thin film materials, deposited onto a substrate such as a glass or metal plate. When photons (light particles) strike the selenium layer, they excite the electrons, causing them to move and create a flow of electric current. This conversion of light energy into electrical energy is known as the photovoltaic effect.
Compared to other types of photovoltaic cells, selenium cells have several benefits. They exhibit high sensitivity to light, making them suitable for low-light environments. They also have a relatively low cost compared to alternative materials used in PV cells. However, selenium cells have lower efficiency and shorter lifespan compared to more modern PV technologies like crystalline silicon cells.
While selenium cells were widely used in early solar panels and light meters, they have been largely superseded by more efficient and cost-effective photovoltaic technologies. Nonetheless, the term "selenium cell" is still sometimes used to refer to the historical use of selenium as the photoactive material in early solar cells.
Common Misspellings for SELENIUM CELL
- aelenium cell
- zelenium cell
- xelenium cell
- delenium cell
- eelenium cell
- welenium cell
- swlenium cell
- sslenium cell
- sdlenium cell
- srlenium cell
- s4lenium cell
- s3lenium cell
- sekenium cell
- sepenium cell
- seoenium cell
- selwnium cell
- selsnium cell
- seldnium cell
- selrnium cell
Etymology of SELENIUM CELL
The word "selenium" originates from the Ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "selene", meaning "moon". The element selenium was named by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1817. Berzelius named it after the moon due to selenium's similarity in appearance and qualities to tellurium, which he had named after the Earth.
The term "cell" in "selenium cell" refers to a device that converts light into electricity. It was first coined by Charles Fritts, an American inventor and engineer, in the late 19th century. Fritts developed the first practical selenium solar cell, which consisted of a thin layer of selenium coated on a metal plate. Since then, this type of photoelectric device has been known as the "selenium cell", and the term has become widely used to describe various types of solar cells based on materials other than selenium.
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