Energy from light – Plants and solar cells
Interactive
Schematic diagram:
Energy conversion in a leaf (photosynthesis), a dye-sensitized solar cell, and a silicon solar cell is compared.
Type of media:
Interactive (1.0 MByte)
Last update:
2021-06-25
License:
This medium is made available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 international license.
What does this mean?
How to reference this medium
This medium is made available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 international license.
What does this mean?
How to reference this medium
Media package:
Description:
The similarity of photosynthesis and a solar cell is that light (radiant energy) excites electrons. The differences lie in the absorbing material: In photosynthesis, this is the leaf pigment chlorophyll; in a dye-sensitized solar cell, this is anthocyanins; and in a silicon solar cell, this is doped semiconductors. In photosynthesis, the electron excitation results in the conversion of radiant energy to chemical energy, ultimately in the form of sugar, and in solar cells, in the conversion to electrical energy (flow of current).
Related media:
There are no other media directly related to this file.
Learning resource type:
Interactive graphic
Subjects:
Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Technology
Grade levels:
Grade 5 to 6; Grade 7 to 9; Grade 10 to 13
School types:
Middle/high school
Keywords:
Electrical circuit; Semiconductor; Solar energy
Bibliography:
Siemens Stiftung Media Portal
Author:
MediaHouse GmbH using material from: Siemens Stiftung
Rights holder:
© Siemens Stiftung 2020