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The History Of Solar Cells

1839 Initially developed by Edmund Becquerel who discovered the "Photovoltaic effect" he observed that discovered that an electrolytic cell comprising of two platinum electrodes immersed in an electricity conducting solution increased its electrical production when exposed to light.

1873 Willoughby Smith discovered the photoconductivity of Selenium.

1877 Charles Fritts (an American Inventor) discovered the photovoltaic effect in solid Selenium he then attached Selenium squares to Brass and then the squares were covered with a transparent Gold film. On exposure to light he recorded that 1% of the light was converted to energy.

1870 Meanwhile Heinrich Hertz had developed solar cells manufactured from solid Selenium producing an efficiency of 2%.

1905 Albert Einstein published a paper explaining the Photoelectric effect. This paper was based on the work of a fellow physicist Max Plank. The theory was based on the principle that energy could only be released or absorbed by atoms as atomic radiation packets called Quanta. Einstein used this concept to demonstrate why light above certain frequencies shining on a metal caused it to emit electrons.

Max Planck's Theory:

Light shining onto metal behaves like a stream of energy packets these are called Photons. The energy within photons is directly proportional to the light frequency. (Plank has defined a formula to calculate this) When light strikes the metal the photon energy transfers to the electrons within the metal. If the Photon energy is greater than the forces that hold the electrons in the metal electrons are discharged. The result is that light at the appropriate frequency can displace electrons from the metal surface, leaving them free to move about and form a "conduction band". When an electron leaves the metal it leaves behind a hole. They are harnessed by the use of semi-conductors that have differing electrical characteristics which results in the creation of an electric field. It is this field that causes positive and negative charges to move in opposite directions which creates the electric current.

1954, Bell Laboratories discovered that crystalline silicone could provide a cell efficiency of 4%

1960 The space race was on resulting in a cell producing 14% Efficiency.

Today we have PV cells operating at up to 20% efficiency. We are beginning to use Solar Modules to power our homes, schools, offices, and factories. Solar development has resulted in Solar Farms for Utility scale electricity generation. Governments now recognise Solar as an important source of Green Energy for our their national and global energy requirements, that they pay generous financial rewards (Feed In Tariffs ) to individuals , communities and businesses' who invest in Solar PV.

If you would like to know more and discover how you or your organisation can benefit from this exiting technology please speak to a member of our advice team at Save Money With Solar.

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