what is a voltaic cell?
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A voltaic cell is also called a galvanic cell . In a galvanic cell, chemical energy is converted to electrical energy. When two electrochemically dissimilar metals (this means one metal corrodes/rusts must faster than the other) are connected in the presence of an electrolyte (a liquid) electrons will flow from the lower potential metal (anode) to the higher potential metal (cathode).\n\nCheck out the pictures
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I know of no copper-based solar cells.  They involve some silver alloys deposited on silicon semi-conductors.  If you need a copper based cell, try a strip of copper and a strip of zinc in a potato or lemon.  It will make enough power for an LCD cheapo clock or watch to run off for a long time.  \n\nThe chemistry, heat, and equipment needed to generate semiconductor material is way beyond the home-experimenter's abilities and budget.
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the single solar cells you can buy at Radio Shack are about .5 volts each so I imagine a calcutor solar cell would be anywhere from .5 to 1.5 volts
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on a rad new cell that work by positive energy
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A solar cell (or a "photovoltaic" cell) is a semiconductor device that converts photons from the sun (solar light) into electricity. In general a solar cell that includes both solar and non-solar sources of light (such as photons from incandescent bulbs) is termed a photovoltaic cell. 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.\n\nSolar cells have many applications. Historically solar cells have been used in situations where electrical power from the grid is unavailable, such as in remote area power systems, Earth orbiting satellites, consumer systems, e.g. handheld calculators or wrist watches, remote radiotelephones and water pumping applications. Recently solar cells are particularly used in assemblies of solar modules (photovoltaic arrays) connected to the electricity grid through an inverter, often in combination with a net metering arrangement.\n\nSolar cells are regarded as one of the key technologies towards a sustainable energy supply.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree generations of development\n\n[edit] First\nThe first generation photovoltaic, consists of a large-area, single layer p-n junction diode, which is capable of generating usable electrical energy from light sources with the wavelengths of solar light. These cells are typically made using silicon wafer. First generation photovoltaic cells (also known as silicon wafer-based solar cells) are the dominant technology in the commercial production of solar cells, accounting for more than 86% of the solar cell market.\n\n\n[edit] Second\nThe second generation of photovoltaic materials is based on the use of thin-film deposits of semiconductors. These devices were initially designed to be high-efficiency, multiple junction photovoltaic cells. Later, the advantage of using a thin-film of material was noted, reducing the mass of material required for cell design. This contributed to a prediction of greatly reduced costs for thin film solar cells. However, most of the assembly costs for depositing thin film solar cells are still significantly higher than for bulk silicon technologies. Another advantage of the reduced mass is that less support is needed when placing panels on rooftops and it allows fitting panels on light materials, even textiles.\n\n\n[edit] Third\nThird generation photovoltaics are very different from the other two, broadly defined as semiconductor devices which do not rely on a traditional p-n junction to separate photogenerated charge carriers. These new devices include photoelectrochemical cells, Polymer solar cells, and nanocrystal solar cells.\n\n\n[edit] History\nMain article: Timeline of solar cells\nThe term "photovoltaic" comes from the Greek φώς:phos meaning "light", and the name of the Italian physicist Volta, after whom the volt (and consequently voltage) are named. It means literally of light and electricity.\n\nThe photovoltaic effect was first recognised in 1839 by French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel. However it was not until 1883 that the first solar cell was built, by Charles Fritts, who coated the semiconductor selenium with an extremely thin layer of gold to form the junctions. The device was only around 1% efficient. Russell Ohl patented the modern solar cell in 1946 (US2402662, "Light sensitive device"). Sven Ason Berglund had a prior patent concerning methods of increasing the capacity of photosensitive cells. The modern age of solar power technology arrived in 1954 when Bell Laboratories, experimenting with semiconductors, accidentally found that silicon doped with certain impurities was very sensitive to light.\n\nThis resulted in the production of the first practi
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I think you mean photovoltaic - photocells that generate a voltage when illuminated
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Both batteries and condensers store electrical energy.  A battery (actually a set of two or more cells) stores chemical energy while a condenser stores static electric charge. The battery voltage depends on the chemical and metals combined and the number of cells placed in series while the voltage of a condenser depends on the voltage of the source that charged it.
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(hm hm condenser...you must be old school)well we can and kind of have in ways. Helmholtz described charge starge devices that are largely used today as "batteries" for memeory backup. such a charge storage device has great capacity and unlike the capacitors it can be put in series to increase bothe input and output voltage. the internal dielectric is not very great so there is considerable leakage compared to a tradition electrolytic. the scheme used today comprises as a layer of activated charcoal a dielectric layer and then another charcoal layer. you can buy these easity in small units that are as muc as a few fards and a few voltas. \nwhen the lighting strikes, though, the power factor is so low that the internal wiring are likely to burn out. there is c acomapnay, (i dont remember the name), is designing such "batteries" as a methos for propelling vehicles. i think the name of the comapny is Maxwell (not be confused with Maxell).\ni personally have experimented in creating such batteries that store energy as dc but when released it is AC! such a battery would be used in vehicles with more efficient motors and safer too. An ac battery of course would require controls and would use similar schema as what Helmholz described.....\nthere is a great book on Helmholz publised by UC press that leaves one to think that this amn knew way more than einstein ever did and his genius out stripped einstein and leaves him in the dust.\nalso one does no need lightning. therer are enough free electrons in the air to creat a good chrage over time. take a CRT from stock never used is ok, and touch the anode dimple. knocks you right back. that is a charge from the air.
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The most common type of battery used today is the "dry cell" battery. There are many different types of batteries ranging from the relatively large "flashlight" batteries to the minaturized versions used for wristwatches or calculators. Although they vary widely in composition and form, they all work on the sample principle. A "dry-cell" battery is essentially comprised of a metal electrode or graphite rod (elemental carbon) surrounded by a moist electrolyte paste enclosed in a metal cylinder
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The "power" in any electric current is 'voltage'.\n'Voltage' is the measure of the potential difference of electrons between two substances, and therefore the potential for electrons to be transferred between them.\nBatteries generate electricity through any one of several electrochemical reactions.  \nTwo different types of metals are placed in a catalyst (usually a liquid).  When a circuit is completed between the positive side and the negative side, electrolysis occurs - the above mentioned transferring of electrons through chemical reactions from one metal to the other.  The difference in potential felt between the  positive and negative charges (giving off an electron results in a positive charge, accepting it results in a negative charge) is again your volts.\nThe reaction continues until the battery reaches homeostasis (equilibrium, balance).\nIn some kinds of batteries applying an outside electric current properly can reverse the process - allowing you to recharge the battery.\nRechargeable batteries eventually become exhausted because of of oxidation of the polarizing metals or due to a 'memory' buildup.  'Memory' refers to a battery that is not completely discharged before it is recharged.  This is the major reason for the degradation of rechargeable battery life cycles.
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See the reference, some of the fonts don't copy well.\n\nThe cell potential of a voltaic cell is a measure of the maximum amount of energy per unit charge which is available to do work when charge is transferred through an external circuit. This maximum work is equal to the change in Gibbs free energy, ΔG, in the reaction. These relationships can be expressed as\n\nMaximum work = ΔG = -nFE°cell\n\nwhere n is the number of electrons transferred per mole and F is the Faraday constant.\n\nThis free energy change can also be related to the equilibrium constant K\n\nΔG = -RT ln K\n\nCombining these relationships allows us to express the cell potential in terms of the equilibrium constant.
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electric current is the motion of charged particles: electrons.\n\nElectrons have a negative charge so the direction of positive current is actually the opposite direction that electrons are moving.\n\nPositive current goes from high potential to low potential--the + side of the battery to the - side of the battery.  This means in reality that electrons are flowing from the - side of the battery to the + side of the battery (opposite the current)\n\nIn order to support the motion of electons, a chemical reaction must be happening in solution that absorbs electrons at the + side and emits electrons at the - side.\n\nThis means that an oxidation occurs at the - side and a reduction occurs at the + side.\n\n(An oxidation involves electron loss and reduction involves electron gain--use the pneumonic: OIL RIG = Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain (with respect to electrons)\n\nAlso, FYI the + side is called the cathode and the - side is called the anode.
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Light pushes electrons outs of the atoms in the cell making electricity
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one solar cell is one of thousands on a sheet made like waffles then numerous layers ( at least three) are cooked togther - with initial "wiring" determines how big (how many cells) the "saleable" slices will be/contain\n\nI think they are made in a "clean" room too like many electronics (guys in white suits and masks to avoid contaminating the "product" which would lose any efficiency if "flawed"\n\nI can't remember the exact technical aspects and procedures\nSome old National Geographic had an articale all about this
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By definition, a metal conducts electricity.
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the answer can vary greatly depending on the type of cell that you are looking for.  High efficiency cells can have outputs more than 10 times that of cheap hobby cells.  The easiest way to find the specs is the website of your supplier, they should quote full efficiencies of all of their products
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Inside are two electrodes.  One is made of Zinc, and the other is made of Manganese Oxide.  These make up the positive and negative terminals respectively.  The electrodes are surrounded by an alkaline electrolyte