p-type hexagonal solar cell for terrestrial use
date: label: date made
content: ca 1972
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Solar cells come in many shapes and sizes, and are manufactured with a variety of materials. The wafer of this hexagonal cell is made with the element silicon. The dark areas convert sunlight into electricity while the thick and thin lines are part of the electrical circuit. The white, tapered arrow along the center is the main lead and gathers the charge from twelve thin “fingers” that run horizontally across the wafer. This solar cell was designed for use on the ground rather than in space. The hexagonal shape allows many cells to be grouped together on a panel, minimizing wasted space between each cell.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
label: See more items in
content: Energy & Power
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from Eugene L. Ralph
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2016.0070.09
label: accession number
content: 2016.0070
label: catalog number
content: 2016.0070.09
objectType: label: Object Name
content: photovoltaic cell
label: Object Name
content: solar cell
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: each: in x 2 in x 1 3/4 in; .0254 cm x 5.08 cm x 4.445 cm