there were no mainstream commercially available freezers specifically designed to operate in the way you described, using solar power to cool the freezer during the day and then relying on ice made by solar panels to maintain cooling at night. However, the concept you mentioned is not entirely unheard of and is somewhat related to thermal energy storage systems.
Thermal energy storage systems allow excess energy generated during certain periods (e.g., sunny days) to be stored in the form of thermal energy, which can be used later during periods of high demand or when the primary energy source (in this case, solar panels) is not available (e.g., at night or on cloudy days). The most common form of thermal energy storage is through the use of materials with high heat capacity, such as water or phase change materials (like ice), which can store and release thermal energy.
While some experimental or research projects might have explored this concept, it's not something you would typically find in standard consumer appliances due to the complexity and cost involved. It would require an integrated system of solar panels, energy storage (to store excess energy as ice), and a sophisticated control mechanism to switch between using electricity directly and utilizing stored thermal energy from the ice. Such a system might also have limitations in terms of the amount of energy storage and the efficiency of the cooling process.
For residential solar-powered homes, the most common approach is to use solar energy directly to power appliances, including freezers and refrigerators. If excess energy is generated during sunny periods, it can be fed back into the grid or stored in batteries for use during low solar production times. In some cases, individuals may also use thermal energy storage systems on a larger scale for heating and cooling needs, but these are typically more complex installations than what you would find in a standard freezer unit.
As technology advances and the demand for sustainable and energy-efficient solutions grows, we may see more innovative and energy-saving appliances in the future. However, it's always essential to check with manufacturers or renewable energy specialists for the latest developments in solar-powered appliances and thermal energy storage solutions.