source – http://www.green-translation-service.com
According to NASA:
Photovoltaics is the direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these free electrons are captured, an electric current results that can be used as electricity.
Read more at http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/
