Igama elithi photovoltaics (PV) laqala ukukhankanywa malunga no-1890, kwaye lisuka kumagama esiGrike: ifoto, âphos,â elithetha ukukhanya,
I-Photovoltaics ukuguqulwa ngokuthe ngqo kokukhanya kumbane kwinqanaba le-athomu. Ezinye izixhobo zibonisa ipropathi eyaziwa ngokuba yi-photoelectric effect ebangela ukuba bafunxe iifotoni zokukhanya kunye nokukhulula ii-electron.