Timeline of solar cells

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Timeline of photovoltaics. (Discuss)

The Timeline of solar cells begins in the 1800s when it is observed that the presence of sunlight is capable of generating usable electrical energy. Solar cells have gone on to be used in many applications. They have historically been used in situations where electrical power from the grid is unavailable.

1 Timeline
2 Future developments
3 See also
4 External links and references

[edit] Timeline

US685957 : Rays falling on insulated conductor connected to a capacitor; the capacitor charges electrically

[edit] 1800s

1839 - Alexandre Edmond Becquerel observes the photoelectric effect via an electrode in a conductive solution exposed to light.
1873 - Willoughby Smith finds that selenium is photoconductive.
1877 - W.G. Adams and R.E. Day observed the photovoltaic effect in solid selenium, and published a paper on the selenium cell. 'The action of light on selenium,' in "Proceedings of the Royal Society, A25, 113.
1883 - Charles Fritts develops a solar cell using selenium on a thin layer of gold to form a device giving less than 1% efficiency.
1887 - Heinrich Hertz investigates ultraviolet light photoconductivity.
1888 - Edward Weston receives patent US389124, "Solar cell", and US389125, "Solar cell".
1894 - Melvin Severy receives patent US527377, "Solar cell", and US527379, "Solar cell".
1897 - Harry Reagan receives patent US588177, "Solar cell"..

[edit] 1900-1929

1901 - Nikola Tesla receives the patent US685957, "Apparatus for the Utilization of Radiant Energy", and US685958, "Method of Utilizing of Radiant Energy".
1902 - Philipp von Lenard observes the variation in electron energy with light frequency.
1904 - Albert Einstein publishes a paper on the photoelectric effect. Wilhelm Hallwachs makes a semiconductor-junction solar cell (copper and copper oxide).
1913 - William Coblentz receives US1077219, "Solar cell".
1914 - Sven Ason Berglund patents "methods of increasing the capacity of photosensitive cells".
1916 - Robert Millikan conducts experiments and proves the photoelectric effect.
1918 - Jan Czochralski, a Polish scientist, produces a method to grow single-crystal silicon.

[edit] 1930-1959

1932 - Audobert and Stora discover the photovoltaic effect in Cadmium-Selenide (CdS), a photovoltaic material still used today.
1946 - Russell Ohl receives patent US2402662, "Light sensitive device".
1950s - Bell Labs produce solar cells for space activities.
1953 - Gerald Pearson begins research into lithium-silicon photovoltaic cells.
1954 - AT&T exhibits solar cells at Murray Hill, New Jersey. _[1]. Shortly afterwards, AT&T shows them at the National Academy of Science Meeting. These cells have about 6% efficiency. The New York Times forecasts that solar cells will eventually lead to a source of "limitless energy of the sun".
1955 - Western Electric licences commercial solar cell technologies. Hoffman Electronics-Semiconductor Division creates a 2% efficient commercial solar cell for $25/cell or $1,785/Watt.
1957 - AT&T assignors (Gerald L. Pearson, Daryl M. Chapin, and Calvin S. Fuller) receive patent US2780765, "Solar Energy Converting Apparatus". They refer to it as the "solar battery". Hoffman Electronics creates an 8% efficient solar cell.
1958 - T. Mandelkorn, U.S. Signal Corps Laboratories, creates n-on-p silicon solar cells, which are more resistant to radiation damage and are better suited for space. Hoffman Electronics creates 9% efficient solar cells. Vanguard I, the first solar powered satellite, was launched with a 0.1W, 100 cm² solar panel.
1959 - Hoffman Electronics creates a 10% efficient commercial solar cell, and introduces the use of a grid contact, reducing the cell's resistance.

[edit] 1960-1979

1960 - Hoffman Electronics creates a 14% efficient solar cell.
1961 - "Solar Energy in the Developing World" conference is held by the United Nations.
1962 - The Telstar communications satellite is powered by solar cells.
1963 - Sharp Corporation produces a viable photovoltaic module of silicon solar cells.
1967 - Soyuz 1 is the first manned spacecraft to be powered by solar cells
1971 - Salyut 1 is powered by solar cells.
1973 - Skylab is powered by solar cells.
1974 - Florida Solar Energy Center begins _[2]].
1976 - David Carlson and Christopher Wronski of RCA Laboratories create first amorphous silicon PV cells, which have an efficiency of 1.1%.
1977 - The Solar Energy Research Institute is established at Golden, Colorado. World production of solar cells exceeds 500 kW.

[edit] 1980-1999

1980 - The Institute of Energy Conversion at University of Delaware develops the first thin-film solar cell exceeding 10% efficiency using Cu2S/CdS technology.
1983 - Worldwide photovoltaic production exceeds 21.3 megawatts, and sales exceed $250 million.
1985 - 20% efficient silicon cell are created by the Centre for Photovoltaic Engineering at the University of New South Wales.
1989 - Reflective solar concentrators are first used with solar cells.
1990 - The Cathedral of Magdeburg installs solar cells on the roof, marking the first installation on a church in East Germany.
1991 - Efficient Photoelectrochemical cells are developed; the Dye-sensitized solar cell is invented.
1991 - President George H. W. Bush directs the U.S. Department of Energy to establish the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (transferring the existing Solar Energy Research Institute).
1993 - The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Solar Energy Research Facility is established.
1994 - NREL develops a GaInP/GaAs two-terminal concentrator cell (180 suns) which becomes the first solar cell to exceed 30% conversion efficiency.
1996 - The National Center for Photovoltaics is established. Graetzel, EPFL, Laussane, Switzerland achieves 11% efficient energy conversion with dye-sensitized cells that use a photoelectrochemical effect.
1999 - Total worldwide installed photovoltaic power reached 1000 megawatts.

[edit] 2000-Today

2005 - Solar cells in modules can convert around 17% of visible incidental radiant energy to electrical energy.
2006 - Estimated yearly solar cell production reached 1868 megawatts. Worldwide polysilicon production is projected to grow from 31,000 tons in 2005 to 36,000 tons in 2006.

[edit] Future developments

Solar power satellites are proposed satellites to be built in high Earth orbit that would use microwave power transmission to beam solar power to a very large antenna on Earth where it would be used in place of conventional power sources. Tellurium has potential applications in cadmium-telluride solar cells. Some of the highest efficiencies for solar cell electric power generation have been obtained by using this material, but previous applications have not yet caused demand to increase significantly.