Archive for February 20th, 2011

Solar Cells


Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/content/15/8824515/html/affairboard.com/wp-content/plugins/tweetmeme/tweetmeme.php on line 33

It is an interesting time to be alive. The precariousness of living in a time when limited resources are becoming even more limited is leading to developing new technologies. It’s absolutely visible on the west coast, where California solar companies make it possible for people to make the move toward a more sustainable lifestyle. It isn’t necessarily a radically new technology, either, but one that has been developing over a number of generations. While there were many proponents of solar power throughout the 20th century, it wasn’t until the next one where the technology had to be honed toward making it economically feasible.

There are great debts, then, toward those who committed their work to developing solar power. The number of scientists involved over the years is rather staggering, includes names as illustrious as Einstein, and holds potential for inspiring the next generation of scientists. A very strong nod needs to go to Charles Fritts, who was responsible for developing the first solar cell. This was in 1883, when he coated a selenium conductor with gold. At that time, it was not very effective, but it didn’t need to be. To begin work on developing the energy source, there needed to be some evidence that it was possible. That evidence moved the world on its axis.

Tags:

Sunday, February 20th, 2011 Enviroment 1 Comment