A solar cell also converts light energy into electrical energy. It’s basically a large-area photodiode. Main difference between solar cell and photodiode: Solar cells are more concerned with the amount of absorbed photons (absorption efficiency) than with the reaction time.
Major difference between photodiode and solar cell:
- Size (solar cell are larger and larger than photodiodes)
- Load capacity (solar cell load capacity is greater than photodiodes)
- Physical design or manufacturing process
- time behavior
- Application (photodiodes are used as sensors, solar cells are used as transducers that convert light into electricity)
- The photodiodes can also be used in the reverse direction, which due to minority carriers only the blocking saturation current is generated. However, this significantly improves the response time, which is very important in many applications. Speed does not matter in solar cells. In addition, solar cells are never used in the reverse direction.
In general, photodiodes are used in electronics as components used in remote controls for receiving and detecting infrared signals. Solar cells are primarily intended to generate electricity by converting sunlight into electricity
