Ovshinsky, Stan
Published: August 18, 2006, 6:31 pm
Updated: August 18, 2006, 6:31 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Peter Saundry
Stan Ovshinsky (1922-), an American inventor, discovered what is now known as the Ovshinsky effect, by which a specific glassy thin film switches from a nonconductor to a semiconductor upon application of a minimum voltage. This led to a new field within materials science, which in turn produced important advances in the engineering of semiconductors, solar energy systems, and electric cars. Ovshinsky and his lab possess more than 250 U.S. patents, the three most notable being: (1) a flexible, thin film solar cell, called a 'shingle' (1970s); (2) the Ovonic battery, an environmentally friendly nickel hydride battery (1982); and (3) a scooter powered by solid hydrogen fuel. Photovoltaics developed by Ovshinsky's company were installed in the Russian space station MIR in 1998. His awards include Time Magazine's "Hero of the Planet", which he received 1999.
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Ovshinsky, Stan". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 18, 2006; Last revised Date August 18, 2006; Retrieved May 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Ovshinsky,_Stan>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
Stan Ovshinsky (1922-), an American inventor, discovered what is now known as the Ovshinsky effect, by which a specific glassy thin film switches from a nonconductor to a semiconductor upon application of a minimum voltage. This led to a new field within materials science, which in turn produced important advances in the engineering of semiconductors, solar energy systems, and electric cars. Ovshinsky and his lab possess more than 250 U.S. patents, the three most notable being: (1) a flexible, thin film solar cell, called a 'shingle' (1970s); (2) the Ovonic battery, an environmentally friendly nickel hydride battery (1982); and (3) a scooter powered by solid hydrogen fuel. Photovoltaics developed by Ovshinsky's company were installed in the Russian space station MIR in 1998. His awards include Time Magazine's "Hero of the Planet", which he received 1999.
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