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SOLAR CELLS


General Information

Research conducted by Panasonic over many years on solar cells and the application of this new technology culminated in 1984 with the successful development of the world’s first thin-film solar cell using compound semiconductors. The company named these cells Sunceram II. The Sunceram II cells have good weatherproof properties and high spectral sensitivity characteristics over a wide wavelength range. Furthermore, since the entire film-forming process involves only screenprinting and since belt sintering is employed, these cells are very amenable to mass production. It also means that high-voltage type solar cells can be formed at a high density on a single glass substrate, and that it is easy to produce them with larger surface areas. Besides developing compact and lightweight Sunceram II modules for outdoor use which maintain a stable performance over prolonged periods, Panasonic has developed compact, high-performance Sunceram II sign units which are used in combination with the company's own coin-type rechargeable batteries. With its sights firmly fixed on power sources for the new forms of soft energy which will be abundant in the twenty-first century, Panasonic is committed to developing new products which will fill the needs of the market.