| From: jmartin164 | 10/17/2012 4:52:45 PM | | | | | | Advancing Solar Science
Natcore Technology: Changing the World by Advancing Solar Science
Posted on October 17, 2012 by Karima Shajani
One of the road blocks to the widespread use of solar cells has been their inability to be cost competitive with conventional power sources but Natcore Technology Inc. (TSXV: NXT) is focused on changing this with their new thin-film growth technology. Exclusively licensed from Rice University, this technology will have immediate impacts to the solar sector, with additional positive impacts to the semiconductor and fiber-optic sectors. Natcore Technology is anticipated to reduce solar cell manufacturers’ use of silicone by over 60% and this will dramatically decrease costs, improve profit margins and ultimately boost throughput.
Further, Natcore Technology will make it possible to mass manufacture super-efficient (30%+) tandem solar cells with double the power output compared to today’s most efficient versions. In simple terms, any product or process that relies on films of silicone dioxide or mixed silicone oxides has the potential to benefit from Natcore Technology.
On September 27, 2012, a research report from Lux Research, an independent research and advisory company named Natcore Technology as an innovator with “next-generation technologies that will drive down cost per watt and restore profit margins to low double digits” for solar module manufacturers. Natcore Technology was also singled out as “the leader in antireflective and light-trapping coatings with likely commercialization this year.”
Chuck Provini, Natcore Technology’s CEO and President comments: “Halve the cost, double the efficiency: That’s our mantra. We have been working for years to dramatically lower the cost of solar energy through techniques such as our ‘absolute black’ silicon, and commercialization is finally within our grasp.” (link)
Currently, product development of Natcore Technology is primarily focused on silicon solar cell coatings and devices. Applications prioritized next in line are those that use silicone substrates in different forms such as silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers — they are the future of microprocessor design. SOI chip production is the fastest growing segment of silicone manufacturing because faster transistors that use less power are essential components for electronics such as handheld devices.
Another application is relevant to the healthcare sector, called NanoStop! Shielding Frabric. It’s an nanocloth x-ray shielding fabric made from yarn and is embedded with nanotubes on which thin silica films have been grown to give the fabric its x-ray shielding properties. An immediate application of this would be as a replacement to the 15 pound lead aprons worn by x-ray technicians. The nanocloth x-ray shield would weigh only 3 to 4 pounds. The fundamentals of this technology can also be applied to a range of industrial and aerospace applications. Consider its use as coating on wetsuits to protect the wearer from bacterial and viral infections when worn in polluted waters. This would be particularly relevant to oil platform divers, Navy SEALS and first responders.
With businesses and individuals alike demanding faster communications with ever increasing data processing capabilities, dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) in an all-optical internet are seen as the way forward. The infrastructure for this is based on three main segments: long-haul fiber-optic trunk lines, city and local area fiber-optic rings and the critical fiber-optic branches that get end users connected. The best performing optical components are made from high-purity silicon dioxide. Though such products are already in many companies’ pipelines, a critical component still does not exist — namely, the high volume manufacturing technology capable of creating components at a cost low enough to entice end users to upgrade from the current electronic internet connections. Natcore Technology holds the potential to do this with its solar science advancements.
http://proedgewire.com/green-energy-intel/natcore-technology-changing-the-world-by-advancing-solar-science/ |
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| From: jmartin164 | 10/17/2012 5:22:29 PM | | | | | | NanoStop!™ Shielding Fabric
NanoStop!™ shielding fabric is a fabric made from yarn that has been embedded with nanotubes onto which have been grown thin films of silica. This treatment gives the fabric x-ray shielding properties. An immediate application for NanoStop! would be a flexible lightweight (3-4 lb.) garment to be worn by x-ray technicians. This garment performs like the 15 lb. lead aprons that protect these and other healthcare professionals from exposure to radiation.
The underlying technology can also be used in industrial and aerospace applications, e.g., to make paints for infrastructure shielding or polymer film for electronics protection. It can also be used to coat fabrics for use in wet suit-type garments that will protect the wearer from bacterial and viral infectious agents during extended exposure to polluted water. The wet suits produced from this fabric could provide a crucial measure of safety for oil platform divers, Navy SEALS, first responders, and others who will be submerged in inhospitable waters.
http://www.natcoresolar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=87 |
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| From: jmartin164 | 10/25/2012 9:58:45 AM | | | | | | Natcore Scientists Build World's First Black Silicon Solar Cell Using Scalable Production Process
Press Release: Natcore Technology Inc. – 26 minutes ago.. .
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RED BANK, N.J., Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists at Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) have created the world's first black silicon solar cell using processes amenable to low-cost mass production.
After recently treating a wafer to make it the "blackest" silicon solar cell surface ever recorded, Natcore's technicians used their scalable liquid phase deposition (LPD) process to create the black silicon solar cell, from wafer to finished cell, in their R&D Center in Rochester, N.Y.
In the past, Natcore had directed other labs--e.g. Arizona State University, the Photovoltaic R&D Center at the University of Toledo, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)--to perform various production steps or to conduct tests for which Natcore was not equipped.
But in July, Natcore completed a $2.5 million financing to enable the company to take its black silicon technology to commercialization. A portion of the proceeds was invested in the brainpower and lab equipment needed to execute its work quickly and in-house. "This black silicon solar cell, made entirely in our lab, is the first fruit of that investment," says Chuck Provini, Natcore President and CEO.
While Natcore's "Absolute Black" silicon wafers have near-zero reflectivity, meaning that virtually 100% of the light that reaches them is available for conversion to electricity, these wafers are merely components of a solar cell; they do not generate electricity until fashioned into solar cells.
The next stop for Natcore's new solar cell is NREL, with which Natcore has a Cooperative Research & Development Agreement (CRADA). NREL recently produced solar cells with an efficiency of 18.2% using processes that are less suited to mass production. Under the terms of the CRADA, NREL and Natcore will work together using Natcore's low-cost passivation technology to achieve or exceed that efficiency with Natcore's black silicon solar cells.
This goal would be accomplished by combining Natcore's patented LPD technology with NREL's technologies for creating a black silicon antireflective layer integrated into high-efficiency solar cells. The feasibility of the combined technologies working together has already been demonstrated in a preliminary Natcore/NREL effort that produced a small-area, lab-scale black silicon solar cell with 16.5% efficiency.
Dr. Hao-Chih Yuan, NREL Research Scientist, says "We have a good synergy with Natcore on black silicon technology. A silicon surface, without proper coating, is detrimental to the energy conversion efficiency of the solar cell. It is not unusual to grow silicon dioxide coatings on black silicon surfaces for this purpose, but the growth is typically at very high temperatures. Natcore's coating uses chemistry. They are the ones who can passivate a black silicon surface cheaply."
Eric Payne, NREL's Senior Licensing Executive adds, "Natcore is the nearest-term and best partner for commercialization of the black silicon technology."
Provini says, "NREL holds the efficiency record with black silicon, but they used a passivation technology that requires expensive thermal oxidation. We will replace that cumbersome step with our LPD oxide process. We believe the combination of the two technologies could significantly exceed NREL's record cell efficiency."
In December 2011, Natcore was granted a patent license agreement from NREL to develop and commercialize a line of black silicon products, including equipment, chemicals, and solar cells, based on NREL patents. The license grants Natcore exclusivity in the field of diffused emitters with liquid phase passivation.
Natcore's "Absolute Black" silicon wafers are significant for two reasons. First, they yield a tenfold reduction in reflectance, which mean that up to 3% more usable light would get into the solar cell, effectively increasing the cell efficiency by that amount. Second, a panel made from Absolute Black solar cells should produce significantly more energy on a daily basis than will a panel made from cells using the industry standard antireflective coating. That's because it reflects less light and because it should perform better during the morning and afternoon hours when the sun hits at an angle. (It should also outperform standard cell panels on cloudy days.) "Its higher energy output, combined with a lower cost using Natcore's patented process, could quickly make black silicon the global solar technology of choice," adds Provini.
Natcore's Chairman, Brien Lundin, notes "This is a major milestone for Natcore and the entire solar industry. A low-cost, scalable production process was the missing piece in making black silicon solar cells viable. We now look forward to providing this key capability." |
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| From: jmartin164 | 11/4/2012 2:12:31 AM | | | | | | Email to shareholders
I have had several friends and shareholders call to ask how our Red Bank office and staff fared during Hurricane Sandy. We are all fine - just a little inconvenienced because of the lack of power, phones or internet. The office in Red Bank, however, has just gotten back on line with all three. I asked the staff to stay home last week since it was a bit dangerous to get around and gas was and is hard to get.
I had occasion to watch the fund raising show last night featuring Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, etc. Since it depicted so much of the devastation on the Jersey Shore, I thought if you had seen it you might have some concern about Natcore.
I felt we were as prepared as one can be given the size and scope of the storm. We had previously gotten an appropriate generator and staged what we felt was enough fuel. This would allow us to make staff payroll as well as continue paying bills to keep all of our facilities current. In addition to our local bank facility, we maintain an out of state account so we always have access to funds even if the local system fails temporarily. We arranged for an out of state answering service that would not be affected by phone or power outages. In essence, we are operating even with the inconveniences mentioned earlier.
Remember, also, that the really smart Natcore people are in Rochester, Oberlin, Columbus and Houston. Dennis Flood, David Levy and our scientific team have not missed a step. We communicate constantly and are progressing rapidly in the optimization of our black silicon solar cell as well as the design of the prototype black silicon machine that we hope to sell shortly.
So in summary, if you did see that great show about New Jersey last night, please don’t worry about the status of Natcore. We were as prepared as we could have been and are functioning very close to normal in Red Bank and normally at our facilities.
Best regards,
Charles R. Provini
President & CEO
Natcore Technology, Inc.
87 Maple Ave, Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-576-8800, fax 732-576-8809
Email: provini@natcoresolar.com
www.natcoresolar.com < http://www.natcoresolar.com/>
Symbol: NXT.V, Toronto Venture Exchange |
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| From: jmartin164 | 11/7/2012 10:12:04 AM | | | | | | Natcore Builds World's First Black Silicon Solar Cell Using Scalable Production Process
by Taz Loomans, 11/07/12
Natcore’s absolute black silicon wafers have near-zero reflectivity. This means that almost no sunlight is reflected off of the resulting solar cells and is instead able to be harnessed for electricity. But it’s important to keep in mind that a wafer, no matter how sophisticated, is only a component of a solar cell and is not able to generate electricity in and of itself.
That is why Natcore has partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to use their absolute black wafer technology to create an overall more efficient black silicon solar cell. This will happen by combining Natcore’s patented LPD technology with NREL’s technology for creating a black silicon anti-reflective layer to create high-efficiency solar cells.
Natcore’s absolute-black technology uses a chemical process instead of an expensive thermal process to achieve near-zero reflectivity, making it the first to be viable for commercial applications. Its absolute black silicon wafers yield a tenfold reduction in reflectance, which means an up to 3% increase in solar cell efficiency. And this means that a panel made from absolute black solar cells would ultimately produce significantly more energy on a daily basis than a panel made from industry-standard silicon wafers. “Its higher energy output, combined with a lower cost using Natcore’s patented process, could quickly make black silicon the global solar technology of choice,” says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini.
Read more: Natcore Builds World's First Black Silicon Solar Cell Using Scalable Production Process | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building
inhabitat.com |
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| From: jmartin164 | 12/4/2012 9:33:30 AM | | | | | | Natcore Technology To Produce Second AR-Box Solar Cell Processing Station
RED BANK, N.J., Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has commissioned the construction of an upgraded AR-Box™ solar cell processing station that will include black silicon capability.
Like the original AR-Box, this second-generation device will be manufactured by MicroTech Systems, Inc., of Fremont, CA, a 12-year-old Silicon Valley company that designs and manufactures wet-bench manufacturing equipment for solar, LED, semiconductor, biomedical, data storage and other high technology applications.
Although Natcore has negotiated a Chinese joint venture that is intended to provide AR-Box equipment for the Chinese market, Natcore chose to produce this new machine in the United States.
"We decided to produce it here because of MicroTech's proven expertise. They should be able to complete the re-engineering and other improvements with reliability and speed," says Chuck Provini, Natcore's President and CEO. "Speed is particularly important, because as soon as we can put these machines into manufacturers' hands we can turn on the faucets of chemical sales and royalty revenues."
Under the terms of Natcore's agreement, MicroTech will also be licensed to sell AR-Box equipment to North American solar cell manufacturers.
Similar to the first-generation AR-Box, the new machine will be semi-automated. But unlike the first AR-Box, this second-generation processing station will be designed to produce black silicon solar cell wafers in a pilot line role in existing solar cell manufacturing facilities.
Natcore expects that the new AR-Box will be completed in the first quarter of 2013. Pending a successful testing outcome, Natcore then hopes to sell the machine to its first customer. Natcore remains in close contact with potential customers as it refines the capabilities of its recently developed black silicon solar cells.
On October 25, 2012, Natcore announced that its scientists have created the world's first black silicon solar cell using processes amenable to low-cost mass production. The company's technical staff continues to refine the production process and improve the performance of its black silicon cells.
"It is precisely due to the progress we are making in our lab that we are now confident in commissioning the next generation of the AR-Box system," notes Brien Lundin, Natcore's Chairman. "We anticipate our first AR-Box sales shortly after we are able to demonstrate the potentially significant cost and performance advantages projected for our black silicon solar cells."
Natcore believes that the projected higher energy output of black silicon solar cells, combined with their lower production cost using the Company's technology, could quickly make black silicon the global solar technology of choice.
Statements in this press release other than purely historical factual information, including statements relating to revenues or profits, or Natcore's future plans and objectives, or expected sales, cash flows, and capital expenditures constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in Natcore's business, including risks inherent in the technology history. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Except in accordance with applicable securities laws, Natcore expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact: Chuck Provini
732-576-8800
Info@NatcoreSolar.com
SOURCE Natcore Technology Inc.
Copyright 2012 PR Newswire |
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| From: jmartin164 | 12/13/2012 2:49:10 PM | | | | | | 12/13/2012
Red Bank, NJ — (December 12, 2012) — After eight years in Beijing working in international trade, international merchandising, administration, and client relations, Evangeline Li Parsons has joined Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) as Director of International Business. She will be based at the company’s headquarters in Red Bank, NJ.
At Natcore, Mrs. Parsons’ responsibilities will include liaison with the company’s joint venture in Zhuzhou City, China, and with Natcore’s overseas customers and prospects.
A native of Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China, Mrs. Parsons earned a Bachelor of Science degree in telecommunications at the Communication and Engineering School of Hebei Science and Technology University. She has also studied law at the Law School of Hebei Science and Technology University and at Beijing University. She is fluent in Mandarin and English.
Mrs. Parsons lives in Robbinsville, NJ. |
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| From: jmartin164 | 1/18/2013 9:38:55 AM | | | | | | News
Natcore Technology Appoints Prominent Italian Solar Scientist to Head New Advisory Board
32 minutes ago - CNW Group via Comtex
Dr. Daniele Margadonna, Chief Technology Officer of MX Group SpA, has been selected to chair a new advisory board being formed by Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK). The appointment is effective immediately.
Headquartered in Villasanta, near Milan, MX Holding is the holding company of an Italian group with international exposure in the solar photovoltaic industry. MX Holding has extensive experience in the planning and construction of turnkey photovoltaic plants. In 2010, the group registered sales of 155 million.
Dr. Margadonna is one of the most renowned solar scientists in Europe. He is particularly expert in three key areas that are of special interest to Natcore:
-- Selective emitter concept, a process for putting front contacts
on a solar cell that could improve its efficiency up to 2.0%.
-- Back side passivation, the process of filling dangling atomic
bonds on the rear surface of solar cells and reducing the
number of defects that always exist in the upper region of the
cell body. It is critical to enabling production of long-term,
high-performance silicon solar cells.
-- Epitaxial growth, a new technology for the production of wafers
with reusable silicon substrates.
"The solar industry needs these technologies in order to lower costs and improve efficiencies," says Chuck Provini, Natcore's president and CEO. "With Dr. Margadonna on board, we plan to hire additional teams of scientists to further develop each of them."
"We came to know and respect Dr. Margadonna in 2011, when we discussed a joint venture agreement with MX Solar," says Provini. "Now we're beginning to lay groundwork for our marketing efforts in Europe, and we realize that Daniele's vast experience, his contacts in Europe's leading solar countries, and his insights into commercialization would be invaluable to us. We are elated that he has agreed to join us."
"This is a dream opportunity for a solar scientist," says Dr. Margadonna. "I enjoy working with Dr. Dennis Flood [Natcore's Chief Technology Officer]. I'm excited about having access to Natcore's intellectual property. And the prospect of working on black silicon under Natcore's license with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is exhilarating."
Dr. Margadonna earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Chemistry at University of Rome, where he also completed doctorate and postgraduate studies in Radiochemistry. Following R&D positions at the Italian National Research Council, ENI Groupe, and Eurosolare, he established E.T.AE, a consulting company focused on photovoltaic technologies. At E.T.AE, he fulfilled consultancy contracts for companies in Italy, Namibia, Norway, India, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Dr. Margadonna has received the Philip Morris Prize for Scientific and Technological Innovation. He is author or co-author of more than 40 scientific publications and six patents in the PV sector.
Statements in this press release other than purely historical factual information, including statements relating to revenues or profits, or Natcore's future plans and objectives, or expected sales, cash flows, and capital expenditures constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in Natcore's business, including risks inherent in the technology history. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Except in accordance with applicable securities laws, Natcore expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact: Chuck Provini732-576-8800Info@NatcoreSolar.com
SOURCE: Natcore Technology Inc.
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2013/18/c6944.html
SOURCE: Natcore Technology Inc. |
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| From: jmartin164 | 1/22/2013 5:03:45 PM | | | | | | January 22, 2013 | Written by Amanda H. Miller
Natcore Technology, a New Jersey company known for its work on black silicon, has brought on an Italian solar company executive as a technical advisor.
Dr. Daniele Margodanna is the chief technology officer for MX Group SpA in Italy and is now part of an official advisory board for Natcore.
He has extensive technical knowledge and is familiar not only with developing new solar photovoltaic products, but also with commercializing them.
“He’s forgotten more about the solar industry than we ever knew,” said Natcore CEO Chuck Provini.
When Margodanna first discovered Natcore, he came out for a presentation.
“I was making my pitch,” Provini said. “And I give a pretty good presentation – talking about doubling efficiencies and all that.”
When Provini finished, Margodanna asked about cell-to-module loss.
“We had no idea what that was,” Provini said.
Concentrating on making more efficient solar cells, Provini said Natcore leaders had not thought to consider what would happen when the cell became part of a solar module. Margodanna can help Natcore scientists think of issues and solve problems they didn’t realize existed. Having that extra insight will help guide the company down the path to commercialization, Provini said.
“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” Provini said.
Bringing Margodanna on as a consultant will help the company avoid releasing anything prematurely, something to be mindful about as the company approaches market readiness with its prototype machine and perfects its black silicon process.
Provini said the company will rely on Margodanna in the coming months to guide the company toward commercialization with its current product, but hopes he will also be able to help in developing other technologies Natcore hopes to work on after completing the black silicon project. The company has patented a unique liquid-phase deposition technology that could have thousands of applications in the solar photovoltaic world.
Provini said Natcore is not paying Margodanna, but is instead offering him stock in exchange for his help and is also working with MX Solar.
http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/natcore-adds-italian-scientist-012213 |
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| From: jmartin164 | 2/4/2013 2:06:23 PM | | | | | | Natcore Technology Assigned Patent
William Marsh Rice University, Natcore Technology Assigned Patent
Targeted News Service
By Targeted News Service
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 4 -- William Marsh Rice University, Houston, and Natcore Technology, Red Bank, N.J., have been assigned a patent (8,361,349) developed by Andrew R. Barron, Houston, Dennis J. Flood, Oberlin, Ohio, and John Ryan Loscutova, Houston, for a "fabrication of light emitting film coated fullerenes and their application for in-vivo light emission."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A nanoparticle coated with a semiconducting material and a method for making the same. In one embodiment, the method comprises making a semiconductor coated nanoparticle comprising a layer of at least one semiconducting material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a nanoparticle, comprising: (A) dispersing the nanoparticle under suitable conditions to provide a dispersed nanoparticle; and (B) depositing at least one semiconducting material under suitable conditions onto at least one surface of the dispersed nanoparticle to produce the semiconductor coated nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle comprises a fullerene. Further embodiments include the semiconducting material comprising CdS or CdSe."
The patent application was filed on Feb. 18, 2010 (12/708,225). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,361,349&OS=8,361,349&RS=8,361,349
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.
AS0204AK0204-837624
http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2013-02-04&val=999651&cat=tech |
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