Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "kwayoyin hoto" na nufin na'urar da ke canza makamashin haske zuwa makamashin lantarki ta hanyar amfani da tasirin hotovoltaic. Wani nau'in kwayar halitta ne da ake amfani da shi wajen samar da wutar lantarki daga hasken rana. Lokacin da photons daga hasken rana suka mamaye saman tantanin halitta, suna buga electrons waɗanda ke kwance daga atom ɗin da ke cikin kayan tantanin halitta, wanda ke haifar da kwararar wutar lantarki. Sau da yawa ana amfani da ƙwayoyin photovoltaic a cikin hasken rana don samar da wutar lantarki don gidaje, gine-gine, da sauran aikace-aikace.