Skip to main content

Photovolteic Cells

Society: IEEEMain Category: ElectricEra: 1950-1959DateCreated: 1959OsakaCountry: JapanWebsite: http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:Commercialization_and_Industrialization_of_Photovoltaic_Cells,_1959Creator: Sharp Corporation
In 1954 three researchers at Bell Laboratories published the results of their discovery of the world’s first practical ‘photovoltaic’ (henceforth abbreviated by ‘PV’) cell which was capable of converting sunlight into electricity, first at 4% and later at 6% conversion-efficiency[1]. In 1959 Sharp Corporation began R&D of silicon monocrystal PV-cells, with mass production starting in 1963[2], and commercialized a variety of mono/multi-crystalline PV-cells for everything from satellites to lighthouses, and industrial applications to residential use[2].
Image Credit: Courtesy NRELImage Caption: Silicon solar array connected to the roof of a commercial building.Era_date_from: 1959
Subscribe to Photovolteic Cells

Innovations

In 1954 three researchers at Bell Laboratories published the results of their discovery of the world’s first practical ‘photovoltaic’ (henceforth abbreviated by ‘PV’) cell which was capable of converting sunlight into electricity, first at 4% and later at 6% conversion-efficiency[1]. In 1959 Sharp… Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support America's only magazine of the history of engineering and innovation, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to Invention & Technology.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.