Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Subhendu Guha Innovative Lives Presentation

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0668
Creators:
Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.
Guha, Subhendu
Dates:
1998
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic feet
3 boxes
Repository:
This collection contains original, master, and reference videos documentingSubhendu Guha, inventor of the solar shingle.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection contains original, master, and reference videos and photographs and transcripts for select footage from the Subhendu Guha Innovatibve Lives Presentation.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection divided into three series.
Series 1: Original videos, 1998
Series 2: Master videos, 1998
Series 3: Reference videos, 1998
Series 4: Photographs, 1998

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Subhendu Guha was born in Calcutta, India. He studied physics at Presidency College and later did graduate work at the University of Calcutta. Guha earned his Ph.D from the University of Calcutta in 1968 and joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bombay, India. At the Tata Institute, Guha investigated certain properties of semiconductors. He became interested in the use of semiconductors to convert sunlight into electricity. The conversion of sunlight to electricity is known as photovoltaics. Guha's concern for environmental and societal problems led him to focus on amorphous silicon, an element found in sand that can be applied as a thin film to produce photovoltaic material. This research led Guha to add hydrogen in the production process, which made a more useful amorphous silicon . Practical applications for Guha's work led him to Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) in the United States. ECD promoted the use of solar energy for a variety of applications. Ultimately, Guha joined an ECD joint company, United Solar Systems to manufacture solar cells. His research led him to produce a photovoltaic panel that is seven feet long and a foot wide, is lightweight, flexible, rugged, durable, and is easy to install with conventional panels. The panels were innovative because of their design, materials, and production process. Manufacturing begins with stainless steel that is washed to remove surface dirt. Two layers of reflective coating are then applied followed by layers of amorphous silicon and amorphous silicon-germanium alloys. Each layer absorbs a different photon-energy wave length. The panels can be mounted on a roof with nails. Wires are then dropped from the panels into a building where they are hooked to the buildings electrical boxes to channel energy to circuits. The flexible solar shingle is manufactured by United Solar Systems Corporation of Troy, Michigan.

Administration

Author
Alison Oswald
Custodial History
The collection was transferred from the Lemelson Center to the Archives Center on October 22, 1998.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was created by the Innovative Lives Program of the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation on October 21, 1998. The Innovative Lives series brings young people and American inventors together to discuss inventions and the creative process and to experiment and play with hands-on activities related to each inventor's product.
Existence and Location of Copies
Collection digitized in 2015. See repository for details.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Oswald, 1999.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but the original videos are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Preferred Citation
Subhendu Guha Innovative Lives Presentation, 1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photovoltaic cells -- 1960-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Solar energy -- 1960-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oral history -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Solar energy Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Shingles -- 1960-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photovoltaic power generation -- 1960-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videotapes -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Electricity -- 1960-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inventions -- 1950-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews -- 1980-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United Solar Systems Corporation. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Berger, Sondra Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu