- Alexandre Edmond Becquerel: In 1839, French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell. He found that when light struck a metal electrode immersed in a conductive liquid, an electric current was generated.
- Willoughby Smith: In 1873, British engineer Willoughby Smith observed the photovoltaic effect in selenium and described it in a scientific paper. He demonstrated that the amount of electricity produced was proportional to the intensity of the light.
- Charles Fritts: In 1883, American inventor Charles Fritts created the first working solar cell by coating selenium with a thin layer of gold. This device had a very low energy conversion efficiency, but it was a significant step forward in the development of solar energy technology.
These individuals made fundamental discoveries and observations that laid the foundation for the development of practical solar energy technologies in later years.