Explore Over 340 Solar CellsCell Archive

The Rayfoto voltaic cell is a semi-cylindrical plate of copper coated in cuprous oxide. The cell has an anode made of a strip of...

commercial experimental

The Arcturus P4A photolytic cell. Donated by Bill Burkett

330

consumer

The Weston 603 was first release in 1931 and is the first known photovoltaic cell powered device. It used a pair of Weston 594...

263

commercial

The Photronic cell was one of the first mass produced barrier layer photovoltaic cells. It found numerous uses and was very popular in light...

262

consumer

261

consumer

Uses a Weston 594 Photronic Cell

260

consumer experimental

Cell appearance looks like the C.W. Hewlett selenium cell which was manufactured between 1935 to 1937. However, documentation and year is unknown for this...

258

commercial

General Electric (GE) 8PV-1 AAB Selenium Solar Cell. Newest Patent Date 1937.

070

consumer

The Gilbert Electric Eye was a toy kit released in 1937 by the Gilbert Company. The kit contained a wire wound selenium photoconductive cell,...

259

consumer

277

consumer

Unknown Year

consumer

Photocells for use with Klett Colorimeters Donated by Kyle Hounsell

commercial

A custom-built, solar-powered Admiral 7M radio, featuring a Hoffman solar panel, was likely created by a hobbyist. The specific year and details of its...

189

experimental

Weston Photronic style selenium cells are still produced by Huygen Corporation today. Donated by Kyle Hounsell

consumer

Purchased from the SMECC collection.

experimental

Purchased from the SMECC collection.

experimental

The Bell Labs Solar Generator was used as a salesman sample to showcase the potential for solar batteries. This device produces a oscillating buzzing...

experimental

Bell Laboratories invented the modern solar cell in 1954. Daryl Chapin, one of the original inventors of the solar cell, gifted some of his...

experimental

The first demonstration of a practical solar cell was shown by Bell Laboratories on April 25, 1954. This invention is a great example of...

014

experimental

Purchased from the SMECC collection.  

experimental

The Bell Labs Demonstration Solar Module is a historical artifact representing a significant milestone in solar energy development. It was likely created in 1955...

experimental

Purchased from the SMECC collection.

experimental

Admiral 7L series of 6-transistor portable radio, along with the (optional) Sun Power Pak and custom leather carrying case – THE FIRST SOLAR POWERED...

consumer

The Acopian Solar Radio from 1957 was a remarkable technology for its time. It was truly unique because it didn’t require any external power...

consumer

Rochester NY game and toy manufacturer, E. E. Fairchild, was featured on page 16 of the Rochester NY Democrat & Chronicle in a story...

214

consumer

Hoffman P411 Home & Travel SOLARADIO. First announced January 14, 1957 by California’s Hoffman Electronics Corp. Initially available at a cost of $150, plus...

197

consumer

The Lafayette KT-132 Sunflex KIT radio was offered by Lafayette Radio in their 1957 Catalog #304 (page 74) at a cost of $11.95 plus...

211

consumer

The Hoffman 706 series Trans-Solar radio was one of the first mass-production solar radios and actually the first to be purchased by the general...

198

consumer

aerospace

From IRC, “The famous International Rectifier B2M Sun Battery, used by experimenters the world over. The B2M will generate a current of 2 ma...

consumer

Purchased from the SMECC collection.

experimental

aerospace

International Rectifier Corporation Astro Power Division

006

aerospace

aerospace

International Rectifier Corporation Solar Cell Standard, this was one of the first standard solar cells to be produced.

274

experimental

Unknown Year

consumer

consumer experimental

A silicon ingot is the bulk form of crystalline silicon before it is thinly sliced into wafers. A high speed wire saw with diamond...

experimental

This solar cell was found in a “Things of Science” box. It is unknown if the educational kits included this cell or if it...

experimental

consumer

Photographed from the Bill Burkett collection

consumer

This is an interesting unknown solar module. It was found with NASA Apollo spacesuit parts. The cells are 1x2cm in size each, which would...

aerospace experimental

Following Hoffman’s successful production and marketing of their 6-transistor Model 706 Trans-Solar radios they announced on July 11th, 1961 this smaller AM band 9-transistor...

199

consumer

The Bell Telephone Company produced the Bell Solar Energy Experiment kit, the second out of four. It contained the materials to construct a working...

264

consumer

Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

216

consumer

Purchased from the SMECC collection.

consumer

Photographed from the Bill Burkett collection

208

consumer

Developed by Bell Laboratories and produced by Western Electric Purchased from the SMECC collection.

aerospace

In 1965 Hoffman produced this solar radio battery which could be used to power ANY model of ordinary (non-solar) transistor radio from sunlight. It...

206

consumer

The Hoffman model 719 solar powered radio was introduced in early 1964 and was the last solar radio in the Hoffman line. The earliest...

200

consumer

consumer

Radio contains Telstar solar modules Photographed from the Bill Burkett collection

experimental

Photographed from the Bill Burkett collection

213

consumer

Likely from mid 1960s, date unknown. Eleco, Midland, and Philmore branded 20-in-1 kits made by Kowa Company, Ltd. of Japan, mid 1960’s. Photographs from...

consumer

consumer

  Photographed from the Bill Burkett and MOSE collection  

consumer

Centralab satellite solar cells from 1967.

aerospace

Year Unknown

183

consumer

Unknown year and make

consumer

Solar cells from Automatic Power Incorporated, likely manufactured in the late 1970s or early 1980s, were part of a portfolio expansion for the Houston,...

309

consumer residential commercial

consumer

Possibly ARCO or Solec solar cell Donated by Omnisil Inc

336

residential

consumer

consumer

consumer residential

aerospace

aerospace

Unknown solar cell likely used for satellites in the late 1970s. Manufacturer possibly Spectrolab. On loan from Omnisil Inc in Memory of Dr. Frank...

365

aerospace

consumer

consumer

consumer

consumer

Exact year unknown.

255

experimental

Year Unknown

consumer

“… SiO-coated silicon solar cells, 2 ohm. cm base resistivity 8-cm2 size, 0. 35 mm (0. 014 inch) thick, glassed with 150 pm (0.006...

aerospace

Photographed from the Bill Burkett collection

210

consumer

1-transistor solar kit 28-129 2-transistor solar kit 28-214 Photographed from the Bill Burkett collection

212

consumer

Sold by Radio Shack from 1972-1978. “Learn by doing with this educational device — ideal for school projects. Produces .5 volts at .6 milliamps...

consumer

Made for the ages, the Synchronar 2100 is a solar-powered watch designed to run for a century. It has a built in calendar that...

180

consumer

Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

222

consumer

359

aerospace

Year Estimated

256

consumer residential commercial

273

consumer

Solarex micro-generators were small, portable solar cells that were used to power a variety of devices, including calculators, watches, and other small portable electronics....

consumer

The exact year of this module production is unknown. Solar Power Corporation was founded in 1968 and started producing solar modules in the early...

commercial

The Lenox Uranus solar watch is likely from the mid 1970s.

consumer

The Citizen Crystron solar powered watch was the first analog watch to incorporate a solar cell. The initial prototypes for the watch were done...

271

consumer

The Sharp Sunman EL-8026 holds a significant place in calculator history as the first solar-powered calculator to enter mass production. It featured a unique...

357

consumer

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

322

experimental

consumer

The Solar Energizer Necklace was patented in 1977 by Leon Halfon as a therapeutic adornment. The necklace provided the wearer with electrical energy supplied...

consumer

Mini-module from JPL Block II Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

287

experimental

Mini-Module from JPL Block II Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

321

residential

Mini-module from JPL Block III, 56mm solar cells at 460 um thickness Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

320

experimental

Model is a demo sized module of the Solarex A-0221-G Solar Panel from the JPL Block III. Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection...

288

experimental

aerospace

aerospace

Panasonic AM Mr Thin R-013 solar radio. The non-solar version of the radio was the Panasonic Mr Thin R-022 or the RF-033 which was...

233

consumer

The RS solar cell module was designed to fit into perforated circuit boards or breadboards for electrical experimentation. It is shown in figure 7.10...

282

consumer

See also Solarex Solar Micro Generator

100

consumer

Sold under the Archer brand at RadioShack, this solar cell was likely produced by Solarex in the early 1980s.

310

consumer

consumer

Year Unknown Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

205

consumer

356

residential commercial

This silicon crystal seed originated from ARCO Solar’s silicon ingot growing operation. It served as the starter crystal in the Czochralski process, a crucial...

366

experimental

ARCO research solar cell Donated by Omnisil Inc

342

experimental

ARCO research solar cell Donated by Omnisil Inc

341

experimental

ARCO test solar cell Donated by Omnisil Inc

340

experimental

Mini-module 60-3062-F from Applied Solar Energy Corporation ASEC. Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

289

experimental

Possibly Audio LIght Norway solar cell Donated by Omnisil Inc

337

consumer

Donated by Gene Young of NASA

aerospace

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

225

consumer

It’s the Ferranti ESC3, a rugged and reliable building block for the construction of small solar power arrays. Designed for educational use and experiments,...

281

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

224

consumer

Possibly ARCO or Solec solar cell Donated by Omnisil

343

experimental

Possibly ARCO or Solec solar cell Donated by Omnisil Inc

333

experimental

residential experimental

158

consumer

Unknown Year

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

229

consumer

Unknown Year

consumer

residential

consumer residential commercial

Powerglass Photovoltaic Module Model UM-10 Serial Number 1704 Utility Power Group Chatsworth CA Made in the U.S.A Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection...

313

consumer

The year and manufacturer of this small solar module are unknown but were often seen starting in the 1980s in toys, stem kits, or...

consumer

Year Unknown

consumer

Solar Plant Rotator likely from the 1980s-90s.

consumer

Unknown manufacturer and year

consumer

Year Unknown

191

consumer

Object likely produced by Solarex in the late 1970s or early 1980s as an educational demonstration of solar energy.   Original image donated by...

280

consumer

aerospace experimental

On loan from Omnisil Inc in Memory of Dr. Frank Feagle, Solec International

367

consumer

Solec’s solar cells, made from reclaimed semiconductor silicon wafers provided by Westark, pioneered a new industry standard. This innovative approach created a significant supply...

344

experimental

Research solar cell Donated by Omnisil Inc

339

experimental

The solar cells and panel style are similar to the Solarex Solarvoltaic panel. They used square high efficiency solar cells to make the active...

189

consumer aerospace

aerospace

Model is a demo sized module of the Spire 058-0007-A Solar Panel from the JPL Block IV Buy. Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman...

285

experimental

Part number or Serial Number 87717c Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

327

experimental

Unknown Year

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

241

consumer

Unknown Panel Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

319

experimental

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

286

commercial

Unknown Year

residential commercial

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

226

consumer

Semiconductor wafers to be reclaimed for use in solar cells in the early 1980s by Westark Inc. Donated by Omnisil Inc in Memory of...

363

experimental

Donated by Norman Lane

266

experimental

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

230

consumer

consumer

Donated by Omnisil Inc

39

residential

ARCO Research Donated by Omnisil Inc

334

experimental

Donated by Omnisil Inc

332

experimental

An original Arco Solar textured etch produced with a 2% KOH solution @ 80 C with additions of 100 ml isopropyl alcohol about every...

331

experimental

Mini-module from JPL Block IV, 100x100mm solar cells at 380 um thickness Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

318

residential commercial

Mini-Module from JPL Block IV, 1980 17mm solar cells, 510um thickness Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

317

residential

272

consumer

Solec International initially produced solar cells using reclaimed Westark material from the semiconductor industry in the early 1980s. The front and back pattern designs...

362

residential commercial

Original Solec International production solar cells manufactured on Westark material reclaimed from the semiconductor industry material in the early 1980s. Donated by Omnisil Inc...

361

residential commercial

Polaroid images of Westark solar cell texture patterns, taken with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in 1981. On Loan by Omnisil in Memory of...

360

experimental

Westark Inc reclaimed silicon wafer styrofoam carrier. Donated by Omnisil Inc in Memory of Dr. Frank Feagle, Solec International

364

experimental

consumer

Solec International manufactured a solar panel for Westark Inc. using reclaimed semiconductor wafers. Notably, these wafers utilized 50 ohm/cm resistivity material—a significant departure from...

368

experimental

Early multi-crystalline silicon wafer by ARCO Research Donated by Omnisil Inc

335

experimental

On Loan to Minnesota National Guard Exhibit and displayed at the Minnesota Capital. RECORD # 132 PV INTER 5/84,34 05/01/84 ARCO SOLAR INTRODUCING THE...

consumer commercial

Flown on NASA’s Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) which was put into low earth orbit in April 1984 and retrieved January 1990. Evidence of...

aerospace experimental

Mini-module from JPL Block V. Cell size 95×48 mm and 300 um thickness Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

323

experimental

243

consumer

Solec International solar cell polish front test. Silicon wafer provided by Westark Inc and was polished by Dennis. Donated by Omnisil Inc

338

experimental

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

316

commercial

297

consumer

consumer

consumer

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

231

consumer

Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

232

consumer

Year unknown, likely late 1980s Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

217

consumer

129

consumer

Chronar was an American manufacturer of the second generation of solar cells called thin-film or amorphous silicon solar cells. The solar cell is manufactured...

consumer

Crown SZ-46G solar powered cassette player and radio. Date estimated Donated to the Bill Burkett Collection

249

consumer

aerospace experimental

Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

215

consumer

The Sony Walkman WM-F107 is a stereo radio and cassette player powered by an integrated solar panel. The solar panel could only power the...

consumer

Year Unknown, likely late 1980s

185

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

242

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

220

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

228

consumer

The Arco Pathmarker is one of the earliest examples of a solar garden light. They were first introduced in the 1980s and used newly...

consumer

consumer

consumer

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

326

experimental

Amorphous glass solar panel, example solar module by the company is the CHRONAR CSA1 3 E which was available in East Africa.

307

residential commercial

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

223

consumer

Year Unknown

consumer

aerospace

Donated by Kyle Hounsell

consumer

The Hubble Space Telescope is a joint NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) project that launched on April 24, 1990. The project’s mission is...

aerospace

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

235

consumer

Unknown Year

consumer

experimental

EFG solar cell

155

residential commercial experimental

345

residential commercial

348

residential

350

residential

347

residential

349

residential

346

residential

351

residential

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

residential

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

residential

Donated by Heart of The Sun Solar

residential

Year Unknown

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

328

experimental

Possibly AstroPower’s APex using Silicon-Film highspeed continuous silicon sheet technology.

295

residential commercial experimental

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

109

residential

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

117

residential

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

123

residential

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

124

residential

residential

residential

residential commercial

009

consumer

“PowerMax® technology Siemens Solar proprietary PowerMax® technology optimizes the cells and modules for energy production in all types of environmental conditions. This includes the...

residential

Donated by Heart of The Sun Solar

consumer

aerospace

aerospace

consumer

consumer

Unknown Year

consumer

Unknown Year

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

218

consumer

consumer

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

237

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

234

consumer

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar. Solar cell year unknown.

108

consumer

Unknown make and year analog solar watch panel. Donated by Kyle Hounsell

consumer

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

324

consumer

304

consumer

Example of string ribbon solar cell by Evergreen Solar. Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

118

residential commercial

residential commercial

residential commercial

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

315

consumer

consumer

87

consumer

Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

207

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

236

consumer

354

consumer

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

114

consumer

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

116

residential

Donated by Kyle Hounsell

consumer

Uni-solar ePVL solar cells are thin film triple junction solar cells.

004

residential

257

consumer experimental

Several solar cell donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

022

residential

aerospace

301

consumer

The ST5 module uses Copper Indium Diselenide (CIS).

299

consumer

Early Prototype solar cell for use on the International Space Station

011

aerospace

Vehicle donated from the UMN SVP.

369

experimental

consumer

consumer

355

consumer

Donated by Eric Weflen

283

aerospace experimental

Year and Make Unknown

184

consumer

Donated by Paul Bostwick

267

experimental

Donated by Paul Bostwick

268

experimental

Donated by Paul Bostwick

269

experimental

Donated by Paul Bostwick

270

experimental

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

238

consumer

aerospace

aerospace

aerospace

195

residential commercial

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

experimental

experimental

consumer

consumer

Used on the International Space Station Solar Arrays

aerospace

aerospace

commercial experimental

aerospace

Konarka Model 110 was the highest efficiency organic solar cell as measured by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. They built their product on a...

consumer

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

119

residential experimental

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

325

consumer

Soltronix HR-1 Solar FM Headphones were developed by Powerfilm, the creator of the solar cells used in the headphones.

276

consumer

SunPower A-300 Donated by Eric Weflen

293

residential commercial experimental

303

consumer

300

commercial

SunPower C60, also known as the Gen 1 of the Maxeon series.  

284

residential commercial experimental

Photograph by MOSE from Timothy Silverman collection at NREL.

314

residential

298

consumer residential

305

experimental

192

residential commercial

049

consumer residential

Suntech Solar Panel, 2007, is another solar panel that looks rather ordinary but changed the course of solar power. Suntech was founded by Shi...

190

consumer

consumer

Indoor solar cell

308

consumer

302

consumer experimental

The Samsung S7550 Blue Earth is an early example of a smartphone with an integrated solar panel made in 2009. Some of the first...

consumer

187

consumer

015

consumer experimental

experimental

residential

aerospace

Nanosolar Nanocell is one of the few solar cell printed on aluminum substrate without the need of high end vacuum manufacturing equipment. With an...

003

residential

consumer

294

consumer

residential

Date unknown Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

244

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

239

consumer

Donated by The New Institute and exhibited during the The Energy Show

352

consumer

Date Estimated Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection

240

consumer

027

residential commercial

commercial experimental

Made in 2011, the Samsung NC215S is the first laptop to have a solar panel integrated into it. The panel produces a maximum of...

consumer

consumer

consumer residential

This solar cell is state of the art multi junction concentrator solar cell. Meaning it has multiple layers of light absorption along with being...

commercial experimental

experimental

consumer

experimental

172

consumer

Solar panels made by Clean Venture 21 Corporation

consumer

005

residential commercial experimental

Donated from the Bill Burkett Collection

245

consumer

275

aerospace experimental

306

consumer

353

consumer

Sphelar Stick is a unique solar-powered flashlight that uses 1.8mm silicon spheres to generate power. The micro bead solar cells allow for light to...

consumer

102

residential

Mini module of LG LG360Q1C-AS

296

residential commercial

Donated by Heart of the Sun Solar

121

consumer residential

311

consumer

Heterojunction Hybrid Solar Technology (HST)

291

residential commercial

CIGS solar cells are made by Miasole and product made by Hanergy

consumer

SunPower Maxeon Gen 5 used for the A series of solar panels.

292

residential commercial

290

residential

The Guilin Solar Powered dress by @artbyphysicist 2021: Is the first dress to have an integrated #organicsolarcell that you can purchase. The solar panel is the wearable green...

194

consumer

265

consumer

The Urbanista Los Angeles headphones are the first wireless headphones powered by solar. The third-generation flexible solar cell allows it to capture sunlight in...

consumer

consumer

312

residential commercial