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[[File:Selenium Rectifier.jpg|thumb|An 8 plate 160 V 450 mA Federal brand Selenium Rectifier|224x224px]]A '''selenium rectifier''' is a type of [[metal rectifier]], invented in 1933.{{cn|date=January 2019}} They were used in [[power supply|power supplies]] for electronic equipment, and in high current battery charger applications until they were superseded by [[silicon diode]] rectifiers in the late 1960s. The arrival of the [[alternator (automotive)|alternator]] in some automobiles was the result of compact, low cost, high current silicon rectifiers. These units were small enough to be inside the alternator case, unlike the [[selenium]] units that preceded silicon devices.
The rectifying properties of selenium, amongst other semiconductors, were observed by Braun, Schuster and Siemens between 1874 to 1883.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JXqKERUAdQcC&pg=PA342&dq=History+Selenium+Rectifier+Willoughby&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiLnOfxp5vXAhWG2BoKHdHbAq8Q6AEINzAD#v=onepage&q=History%20Selenium%20Rectifier%20Willoughby&f=false books.google.co.uk]</ref> The photoelectric and rectifying properties of [[selenium]] were also observed by Adams and Day in 1876<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=N_3uCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=Adams+Day+1876+Selenium+Rectifier&source=bl&ots=ECJ9DHBjdr&sig=FKjLMGFdfot_YY4q2AS1v32p28A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjR9qPOq5vXAhXGiRoKHeehBVQQ6AEIODAG#v=onepage&q=Adams%20Day%201876%20Selenium%20Rectifier&f=false books.google.co.uk]</ref> and C. E. Fitts around 1886 but practical rectifier devices were not manufactured routinely until the 1930s. Compared with the earlier [[copper oxide]] rectifier, the selenium cell could withstand higher voltage but at a lower current capacity per unit area.<ref>Peter Robin Morris ''A history of the world semiconductor industry'', IET, 1990 {{ISBN|0-86341-227-0}} pages 13, 18</ref>
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