Photovoltaics
A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that changes light energy into electricity. Photovoltaics are best known as a method for making electricity by using solar cells to change energy from the sun into a flow of electrons.  The photovoltaic effect was first noticed by Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel in 1839.    Practically all photovoltaic devices are some type of photodiode.