This page by Solar Energy Solutions provides up to date and in detail information on solar panels and other forms of solar energy. It includes informations on what makes up a solar cell and how they generate the clean reliable energy we can use in our homes.
A PV cell, also known as a self-generating barrier layer cell is a PV detector that converts radiant flux straight into electrical current. It consists of a thin silver film on a semiconductor layer deposited on an iron substrate.