The history of the photovoltaic cell has been made by different researchers who discovered and studied the photovoltaic phenomenon, but also by historical contexts that encouraged its development.
It begins in 1839, when the French physicist Antoine Becquerel discovers this effect which consists in transforming a portion of solar radiation into electric current through an electrolytic cell exposed to the sun. It continues in 1921, through the Nobel Prize award of Einstein for his work on the photovoltaic effect. Its interest grew considerably in the 1950s, also supported by the strong development of the space industry.
The energy crisis of 1970 triggered a real interest in the use of solar energy in businesses and homes. In the second half of the 20th century, we can witness the development of constructions and vehicles powered by photovoltaic cells. An awareness of the exhaustible nature of fossil fuels has accentuated the desire to find an alternative energy … and what better than an unlimited and inexhaustible source of energy?
