Solar Cells

A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. Sometimes the term solar cell is reserved for devices intended specifically to capture energy from sunlight, while the term photovoltaic cell is used when the light source is unspecified.

Fundamentally, the device needs to fulfill only two functions - Photogeneration of Charge Carriers (electrons and holes) in a light-absorbing material, and Separation of the Charge Carriers to a conductive contact that will transmit the electricity. This conversion is called the photovoltaic effect, and the field of research related to solar cells is known as photovoltaics.

Gas Sensors

Gas sensors interact with a gas to initiate the measurement of its concentration. The gas sensor then provides output to a gas instrument to display the measurements. Common gases measured by gas sensors include Ammonia, Aerosols, Arsine, Bromine, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Diborane, Dust, Fluorine, Germane, Halocarbons or Refrigerants, Hydrocarbons, Hydrogen, Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Cyanide, Hydrogen Fluoride, Hydrogen Selenide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Mercury Vapor, Nitrogen Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Nitric Oxide, Organic Solvents, Oxygen, Ozone, Phosphine, Silane, Sulfur Dioxide, and Water Vapour.

Important measurement specifications to consider when looking for gas sensors include the response time, the distance, and the flow rate. The response time is the amount of time required from the initial contact with the gas to the sensors processing of the signal. Distance is the maximum distance from the leak or gas source that the sensor can detect gases. The flow rate is the necessary flow rate of air or gas across the gas sensor to produce a signal.