At Bell Telephone Laboratories in Berkeley Heights, NJ, Daryl Chapin, with Bell Labs colleagues Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson, invented the first practical photovoltaic solar cell for converting sunlight into useful electrical power at a conversion efficiency of about six percent.
1954 - On April 25, 1954, Bell Labs announces the invention of the first practical silicon solar cell. Shortly afterwards, they are shown at the National Academy of Sciences 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".
Vanguard I, the first solar-powered satellite, was launched with a 0.1 W, 100 cm 2 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. 1960 - Hoffman Electronics creates a 14% efficient solar cell.
The First Single-Crystal Silicon Solar Cell Table 1.3 summarizes the events between 1950 and 1959 leading to the practical silicon single-crystal PV device. The key events were the Bell Labs announcement of the silicon solar cell in 1954 with the Pearson, Chapin, and Fuller patents in 1957 for the 8% efcient silicon solar cell [ 9].
1950s - Bell Labs produce solar cells for space activities. 1953 - Gerald Pearson begins research into lithium-silicon photovoltaic cells. 1954 - Bell Labs announces the invention of the first modern silicon solar cell . These cells have about 6% efficiency.
Three samples were treated with the dull plastic coating and tested and one achieved an energy efficiency of nearly six percent in early 1954. On April 25th, 1954, Bell executives presented the ‘Bell Solar Cell’ to the public with a display of cells using only sun power to operate a 21 inch Ferris Wheel.