Lo lus photovoltaics (PV) yog thawj zaug hais nyob ib ncig ntawm 1890, thiab nws los ntawm Greek lo lus: duab, â, â, phos, - lub ntsiab lus lub teeb,
Photovoltaics yog kev hloov pauv ncaj qha ntawm lub teeb rau hauv hluav taws xob ntawm qib atomic. Qee cov ntaub ntawv nthuav tawm cov cuab yeej hu ua cov nyhuv photoelectric uas ua rau lawv nqus photons ntawm lub teeb thiab tso tawm electrons.