Silicon Investor - Natcore Inc.

[jmartin164] Natcore’s Groundbreaking New Process Boosts Solar Efficiency blog entry from E...

jmartin164 — 5/19/2014 6:52:44 PM

Natcore’s Groundbreaking New Process Boosts Solar Efficiency

blog entry from EEWeb Electrical Engineering Community dated May 19, 2014 :

eeweb.com

EEWeb Power Developer Cover Story May 2014 Dr. Dennis Flood/Natcore Article:

issuu.com

(to see the cover scroll back to page 1)

[jmartin164] An In-Depth Conversation With Natcore CEO Chuck Provini Dec. 25, 2013 5:53 AM E...

jmartin164 — 12/25/2013 12:13:55 PM

An In-Depth Conversation With Natcore CEO Chuck Provini

Dec. 25, 2013 5:53 AM ET |

written by Michael Allison

seekingalpha.com

[jmartin164] Low-Temp Thin Film Production with Laser Doping Written by Sandra Henderson 19...

jmartin164 — 12/19/2013 1:03:07 AM

Low-Temp Thin Film Production with Laser Doping

Written by Sandra Henderson 19 December 2013

US thin-film technology company Natcore Technology is developing new solar cell processes and structures that will allow them to rapidly and inexpensively manufacture high-performance silicon solar cells at low temperatures, without vacuum equipment and with only a few process steps. The process involves texturing the wafers to form a black silicon antireflection surface, passivating the silicon surface and using laser doping to form localised emitter and base contacts.

“We are investigating silicon solar cell structures with localised laser-doped contacts on both the front and rear surfaces as well as device structures with all contacts on the rear surface,” reports Dr David Carlson, a member of Natcore’s Science Advisory board. The company’s black silicon process can be used on the front surfaces of both types of device structures to produce an antireflection surface.

On account of Carlson, Natcore’s novel laser process “utilises a nanosecond green fibre laser where the laser pulse is shaped as a function of time allowing us to optimise the doping profiles.” Laser doping is a process that uses the energy in a laser beam to rapidly form a localised contact to a solar cell at room temperature. An ink or paste containing a dopant such as phosphorus is deposited on a passivated silicon wafer, and the laser beam locally melts both the dopant source and the silicon to form a doped contact in less than a millionth of a second.

“Conventional solar cells are processed at high temperatures (greater than 800 degrees Celsius) for several minutes to form the doped contacts, and antireflection layers are deposited using expensive vacuum equipment,” says Carlson, illustrating the benefits of the laser doping process, compared with previous manufacturing techniques. By contrast, Natcore’s new laser doping process can be performed in about 1 second per silicon wafer at room temperature in air. What is more, “Our solar cell processing can be performed with relatively inexpensive equipment in a much smaller manufacturing plant than that required for conventional solar cells.”

Natcore’s technological advance could prove promising for the future of thin-film solar cells. Laser processing can be used to process very thin silicon wafers or even thin silicon films at low cost, since it is a room temperature process that can be performed in air without physically contacting the wafer. “Thus, we are able to handle very thin fragile wafers or films without breakage,” Carlson says.

Solar Novus Today previously reported on Natcore’s record-breaking black silicon solar wafers. Now, Carlson elaborates on how this new laser doping process will integrate with the company’s black silicon materials: “Black silicon allows us to make a high quality textured front surface, which is an excellent low-cost antireflection layer,” the expert says. “Laser doping allows us to make localised contacts to the black silicon surface, and also allows us to make a low-cost, high performance, back-contact solar cell by using black silicon on the front surface with localised laser-doped contacts on the rear.”

Natcore is poised to take the novel laser doping process into the real world, according to their representative: “We believe that we have all the technology required to develop a commercial product within the next two years and may be able to accelerate this process with the appropriate partner,” Carlson says, adding in conclusion that his company is “now positioned to play a major role in the development of the US PV industry and will continue to develop new technologies to assure our success.”

Written by Sandra Henderson, Research Editor Solar Novus Today

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Moves Toward Low-Temperature Production Of Solar Cells Mo...

jmartin164 — 12/9/2013 12:08:53 AM

Natcore Technology Moves Toward Low-Temperature Production Of Solar Cells Move could further reduce cost, raise efficiency

RED BANK, N.J., Dec. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Two weeks after an independent study concluded that Natcore Technology's (NXT.V; NTCXF.PK; 8NT) black silicon technology could reduce silicon solar cell production costs by up to 23.5%, the company has taken additional steps that could further reduce production costs and hazardous effluents.

Black silicon technology can eliminate the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of silicon nitride currently in solar cell production lines. Now Natcore scientists are developing laser processing to replace the high-temperature diffusion furnace in the solar cell production process, thus significantly reducing energy and chemical costs associated with the furnace. They have identified a versatile laser that the company plans to acquire for its R&D Center in Rochester, NY.

In typical solar cell manufacturing, the surface of the cell is doped in a process that involves heating the entire silicon wafer to a temperature in the range of 800 to 900° C. The process can damage the silicon, and wastes considerable energy. Laser doping works by firing a focused laser beam on the wafer. A small amount of dopant is initially sitting on the surface. The laser beam actually melts the silicon, which then re-solidifies, usually in less than one microsecond. The microsecond, however, is enough time to accomplish the doping.

Because the laser delivers energy to a very localized area, it would heat only that portion of the wafer that needs to be heated and can lead to more efficient solar cells. Furthermore, a laser would reduce the amount of energy required to produce solar cells, because it would no longer be necessary to heat the whole cell and the furnace around it.

The laser that is being considered by Natcore can be extensively manipulated so that optimum conditions can be found. Natcore is working with the laser producer to process an initial set of samples at their facility to accelerate Natcore's schedule.

To gain expertise in the use of lasers to process solar cells, Natcore has engaged Prof. Mool Gupta and his research group at the University of Virginia. Professor Gupta is a Langley Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and is also the Founding Director of NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) for Lasers and Plasmas at the university.

"Between Prof. Gupta and Dr. Dave Carlson (a member of Natcore's Technology Advisory Board) we have two individuals who have deep experience in this field," says Dr. David Levy, Natcore's Director of Research & Technology. "For Natcore adding laser processing to our repertoire has important implications. First, it gets us in on the ground floor with a technology that we feel will represent the next generation of high-efficiency/low-cost solar cells. Second, it's an excellent fit with our black silicon technology.

"We are reinventing the way that solar cells are made," says Chuck Provini, Natcore's president and CEO. "We are streamlining the process by removing costly steps and by eliminating dangerous and expensive chemicals, like silane and phosphorous oxychloride. We are making it a low-temperature process. Although we can't quantify it yet, we believe the result will be lower cost, higher efficiency and better quality. We believe that's what our licensees will want."

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.

prnewswire.com

[jmartin164] Natcore's Black Silicon Technology Projected to Slash Solar Cell Production Cost...

jmartin164 — 10/30/2013 9:46:21 AM

Natcore's Black Silicon Technology Projected to Slash Solar Cell Production Costs by 23.5%

RED BANK, N.J., Oct. 30, 2013 /CNW/ - An independent study has concluded that Natcore Technology's (NXT.V; NTCXF.PK; 8NT) black silicon technology could reduce silicon solar cell production costs by up to 23.5%.

The savings derive from a streamlining of the production process whereby a silicon wafer is processed into a black silicon solar cell.

To make solar cells, manufacturers typically acquire silicon wafers from an outside source. Since these wafers are cut from a large ingot, they usually have saw damage, which must be removed. To make a conventional solar cell, manufacturers must first remove the saw damage, then texturize the wafer surface, and then apply an antireflective coating.

To make a black silicon cell using Natcore's proprietary process, manufacturers would be able to replace the texture etch with a black silicon etch which in itself would create a highly effective antireflective coating.

Thus the most expensive part of the solar cell process -- the equipment and material costs associated with high-temperature chemical vapor deposition of a silicon nitride antireflective coating -- is completely eliminated.

Natcore asked analysts at the country's leading black silicon research facility to quantify the cost saving to be realized from omitting these steps. Using a "bottom up" manufacturing cost estimating methodology, the analysts calculate the production cost of a conventional silicon solar cell to be 17 cents per watt. In comparison, the study projected that cells made using Natcore's black silicon process would cost about 13 cents per watt.

The resulting savings of 3 cents/watt -- 4 cents/watt represent a production cost reduction of up to 23.5%. "When solar companies are scrambling to save fractions of a cent, a saving of 3 cents -- 4 cents per watt is momentous," says Dr. Dennis Flood, Natcore's co-founder and Chief Technology Officer.

In addition to the dramatic cost reduction, Natcore's test, which was conducted using monocrystalline silicon, had an important environmental benefit: it eliminated the need for silane, a highly toxic gas that combusts upon exposure to air. Natcore may plan a similar test using polycrystalline silicon at a later date.

"We knew there would be a cost saving," says Chuck Provini, Natcore's president and CEO. "We were surprised that it was so large. In fact, production-cost savings of this magnitude will likely overshadow any power gains of black silicon and will make Natcore's technology a must-have for the world's solar cell manufacturers.

"To put it into perspective," he notes, "a recent article by Shyam Mehta, senior solar analyst of GTM Research ('Technology not materials to drive down Chinese solar costs,' August 2013), predicts that Chinese manufacturers will be able to cut prices by only one cent in the next year or so. We could quadruple those savings in one fell swoop. We feel so optimistic about this development that we've begun making plans to take our technology to market."

"The full cost of a solar cell is the sum of two parts: the cost of the silicon wafer and the cost of the processing steps required to turn the wafer into a working solar cell," says Flood. "Cell manufacturers have no control over the cost of the silicon wafers they buy. As a result they are always looking for ways to control their production costs, but with a very important caveat: cost cutting must not lower cell performance in any way. Natcore's black silicon processing technology results in solar cells that meet or exceed the industry's requirement and at the same time provide a spectacular reduction in finished cell cost. Natcore's technology can easily be retrofitted into existing solar cell production lines and can just as easily be incorporated into a new line. Black silicon seems poised to become the industry's standard approach."

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

www.natcoresolar.com

SOURCE Natcore Technology

/CONTACT:

natcoresolar.com

online.wsj.com

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Issues Progress Update RED BANK, N.J., Oct. 25, 2013 /PRN...

jmartin164 — 10/25/2013 12:05:32 PM

Natcore Technology Issues Progress Update

RED BANK, N.J., Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Because Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has added a meaningful number of new shareholders recently, the company would like to update new and existing shareholders about their progress in bringing their solar energy applications to commercialization.

Focused on the photovoltaic/solar industry, Natcore currently holds 16 granted patents and 21 pending patents. While the company is focused on earth-bound solar applications, their proprietary technology could address applications as mundane as coatings on eyeglasses or the inside of water heaters to sophisticated tandem solar cell technology used on satellites.

Because it is important for a small company to remain focused, Natcore recently convened a meeting of their scientific team, including their advisory board, to their lab in Rochester, NY with one purpose in mind: to review all of their technologies and potential applications, identify which of these applications the solar industry wants and needs, and prioritize that list in terms of applications with the most direct path to commercialization.

Included in this solar brain trust were Dr. David Levy, Director of Research & Technology; Dr. Dennis Flood, Chief Technology Officer; Professor Andrew Barron, Charles W. Duncan, Jr.-Welch Professor, Professor of Materials Science at RICE University; Dr. David Carlson, former Chief Technology of BP Solar and Dr. Daniele Margadonna, Chief Technology of MX Solar.

As a result of this meeting, Natcore identified three technologies (Black Silicon, Selective Emitter and Liquid Phase Deposition Passivation) needed by the industry that could reduce manufacturing costs, increase performance, or accomplish both. The company's technology could be instrumental in delivering these applications to the industry in a relatively short time frame.

-- Black Silicon is the etching of nano-sized pores into a solar cell
surface either through gold or silver nanoparticles. The resulting
surface acts as a replacement for the antireflective coating of
traditional solar cells. Natcore's scientists have become quite adept in
manufacturing traditional solar cells in their lab. They have also been
able to manufacture black silicon cells with the same or similar
efficiencies. They are now quantifying, both internally and through
third-party studies, the cost savings that this application would bring
to solar cell manufacturing by using black silicon instead of the
traditional anti-reflective coating. They expect to have these numbers
shortly.

-- Selective Emitter is a process whereby varying the thickness of doping on
a cell will improve the energy output and/or reduce resistance. This
application has the potential to increase efficiencies by 3%-5% relative
to current standards. Natcore has demonstrated that their Liquid Phase
Deposition films can provide a manufacturing-friendly process needed and
wanted by the industry. They have also invented technology that allows
us to easily pattern these films, a requirement for using them for a
selective emitter.

--Liquid Phase Deposition Passivation is Natcore's proprietary process that
allows surface passivation without utilization of a CVD furnace. This
potentially allows the passivation of some high efficiency solar cell
designs in a simpler and more cost effective way than can be done
currently.

These three technologies are stand-alone applications, although the common thread that makes them work is Natcore's Liquid Phase Deposition technology. Natcore feels that they will be able to begin the marketing phase with the Black Silicon application shortly.

In addition to these three shorter-term projects, Natcore is pursuing two major long-term applications in a tandem solar cell and a flexible solar cell. These last two technologies, although not as close to commercialization, could truly change the solar industry by nearly doubling the efficiency of today's best cells or cutting manufacturing costs by up to half.

The fact that China is no longer aggressively subsidizing their solar industry has created an opportunity for technology to bring much-needed advantages to an equal playing field. Incremental improvements in power output or incremental reductions in cost will have a great impact to the cell manufacturer, and Natcore's goal is to provide those improvements.

Another critical issue is the fact that manufacturing a solar cell involves highly toxic materials. At some point as the industry continues to mature, this issue must be addressed. Natcore's technology is relatively benign compared to current industry standards. Their Liquid Phase Deposition process eliminates the use of vacuum furnaces (offering significant energy savings) and silane gas (which is highly explosive and dangerous). Natcore feels that they are at the leading edge not only in improving efficiencies and reducing costs for the solar industry, but also in addressing the toxic waste issues inherent in current solar cell manufacturing.

Natcore's management hopes this update provides investors with a better understanding of how far their research and development has come, and where they hope to be in the near future. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the company directly for more information.

Statements herein 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

SOURCE Natcore Technology Inc.

online.wsj.com

[jmartin164] Natcore on local 5 O'Clock News (Video): 10/24/13 rochesterhomepage.net

jmartin164 — 10/24/2013 6:08:38 PM

[jmartin164] Natcore Controls The Most Important Solar Technology Today Seeking Alpha art...

jmartin164 — 10/18/2013 1:29:58 PM

Natcore Controls The Most Important Solar Technology Today

Seeking Alpha article:Oct 18 2013, 13:07

static.cdn-seekingalpha.com

[jmartin164] 2013 New Orleans Investment Conference From C.Provini: As you probably ...

jmartin164 — 10/15/2013 4:55:08 PM

2013 New Orleans Investment Conference

From C.Provini:

As you probably know, Natcore will have a substantial presence at this year New Orleans Investment Conference. Dr. Dennis Flood, our CTO and several members of our scientific team will be there as well as Tom and me. It is an excellent opportunity to visit face to face with the Natcore team, get updates on our progress and ask your questions. New Orleans is great this time of year, and the conference is extremely educational.

We hope you have the opportunity to make it there. And, if you do, we look forward to visiting with you at booth #190.

Regards,

Charles R. Provini

President & CEO

Natcore Technology, Inc.

87 Maple Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701

732-576-8800, fax 732-576-8809

Email: provini@natcoresolar.com

www.natcoresolar.com

[jmartin164] Artificial Retina Is Solar Powered designnews.com

jmartin164 — 9/26/2013 9:30:19 AM

[jmartin164] Rochester News article: Natcore/Eastman Business Park rochestercitynewspaper.co...

jmartin164 — 9/25/2013 12:16:51 PM

Rochester News article: Natcore/Eastman Business Park

rochestercitynewspaper.com

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Issued U.S. Patent (CNW) First Self-Powered Artificial Ret...

jmartin164 — 9/17/2013 10:36:06 AM

Natcore Technology Issued U.S. Patent

(CNW) First Self-Powered Artificial Retina Could Allow Normal Visual Acuity and Restoration of Color Vision

RED BANK, N.J., Sept. 17, 2013 /CNW/ - The U.S. Patent Office has awarded patent no. 8,433,417 to Newcyte Inc. for a carbon nanostructure artificial retinal implant. Newcyte was purchased in 2009 by Natcore Technology Inc. (NXT.V; NTCXF.PK; 8NT).

"There are several other patents for artificial retinas," says Dr. Dennis Flood, Natcore's Chief Technology Officer and the inventor of the device. "But all of them have limitations. Some require the patient to have sight. Some restore only limited acuity, or the ability to detect motion or to distinguish between light and dark. Some are bulky and/or require prosthesis. Ours is a self-powered implant that doesn't require a camera, a transmitter, or any other external device. It would work as long as the patient's nerves are alive and only the rods and cones are affected. And it has the potential to be wavelength selective, so that color vision could be reintroduced to people whose only prospect now is a cloudy black-and-white."

The need for this artificial retina is substantial. According to the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), an estimated 15 million Americans have age-related macular degeneration (AMD). ASRS also says that retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease, affects one in 4000 Americans. Natcore believes that both of these disorders could be corrected with its artificial retina.

The Natcore retina comprises an array of carbon nanotubes, grown vertically on a substrate. The nanotubes are coated with a semiconducting material, in effect wrapping a solar cell around them, with the tips of the nanotubes exposed and arranged to extend into the ganglion nerves. When light enters the eye and is focused by the lens onto the artificial retina, a voltage buildup causes the nerves to fire, acting like a synapse and sending a signal to the brain. The coated carbon nanotubes act like rods or cones, the eyes' photoreceptors that convert light into signals that can stimulate biological processes.

The Natcore device would be surgically implanted. It would be a flat round disc with a diameter of approximately 4mm, roughly the size of a pencil eraser.

Dr. Flood has 33 years' experience in developing solar cell and array technology for both space and terrestrial applications at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where he served as Chief of the Photovoltaic and Space Environments Branch. He was moved to invent this artificial retina when his wife lost the macula of her left eye at a relatively early age due to a form of wet macular degeneration. His invention uses some of the same carbon nanotube technology already owned by Natcore.

"Given our recent advances with black silicon, the selective emitter and the flexible solar cell, we have an embarrassment of riches," says Chuck Provini, Natcore's president and CEO. "The path to commercialization for those three applications is now a relatively short one, while our artificial retina will require much more time. Because of its huge potential and the immediate need for it, we'll probably look for a joint venture partner, a licensee, or an outright buyer to take it to market."

Newcyte was founded by Dr. Flood and Prof. Andrew Barron, two of Natcore's co-founders.

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

www.natcoresolar.com

SOURCE Natcore Technology

/CONTACT:

natcoresolar.com

Copyright CNW Group 2013

[jmartin164] Natcore mention and video - democratandchronicle.com

jmartin164 — 8/22/2013 7:13:55 PM

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology which has been devloping black silicon in partnership with...

jmartin164 — 4/14/2013 5:27:23 PM

Natcore Technology which has been devloping black silicon in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, recently discovered another marketable solar cell enhancement its technology could facilitate. Natcore’s patented liquid phase deposition enables the creation of selective emitters, which have thicker doping under a solar cell’s front contacts to improve the electrical connections and lighter doping throughout the rest of the cell surface to reduce resistance.

Having diverse layers like that enhances solar cell efficiency.

A lot of companies and scientists have been working on developing the technology.

“But the only way anyone is really working on this is cutting through the material with lasers,” said Natcore CEO Chuck Provini. “And that’s not really working.”

It’s time-consuming and expensive.

New Jersey-based Natcore’s technology is perfect for the application, Provini said. And the company’s researchers have developed the application and are filing patents for it now.

“We ran the first selective emitter application last week,” Provini said. “And we’re hoping to have done our first selective emitter as early as (today).”

The road to commercialization for the selective emitter application could be a short one – shorter than the road for black silicon, Provini said.

“It’s quicker because it’s a little simpler,” he said.

Once Natcore perfects its process and can prove its concept, the company could be ready to start marketing its technology to solar cell manufacturers.

It should be a relatively easy sell because the way Natcore would package its technology, the application could replace an existing step that cell manufacturers have to do now anyway, Provini said.

He said the company should have more news about its selective emitter technology in coming weeks, but is also moving forward with its black silicon technology.

The first solar cell the company produced had a 1 percent efficiency, Provini said Natcore has gotten that above 14 percent.

“But now we’re just trying to build a better solar cell,” he said.

In reality, black silicon could be applied to any solar cell and increase its energy output without impacting its efficiency, which means a 20 percent efficient cell with black silicon will produce more electricity than a 20 percent efficient cell without it, which is the demonstration Natcore is working toward making.

cleanenergyauthority.com

[jmartin164] Email from: Charles Provini, Natcore President Dear stockholder, I was extrem...

jmartin164 — 2/14/2013 4:21:27 PM

Email from: Charles Provini, Natcore President

Dear stockholder,

I was extremely pleased to be notified by the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) that we have been named to their TSX Venture 50. The following news release, which we distributed this morning, gives you the details.

There were 2,258 companies listed on the TSXV as of 12/31/12. This honor puts us in the best-performing 0.8% of all of the listed companies.

I am often asked why Natcore chose TSXV as our platform to raise growth capital. The news release lists a few reasons. Here is some background.

Known until 2001 as the Canadian Venture Exchange, TSXV is owned by the TMX Group, which also owns the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

While TSX deals mostly with companies boasting larger capitalizations, the TSX Venture Exchange is a public venture capital marketplace for emerging companies, particularly in the mining, energy and high-tech industries, that have not yet met the assets and market cap requirements for listing on the TSX.

In the U.S., small startups have a steep uphill to climb. They are often relegated to the Pink Sheets, where there may be little trading, little visibility, and even less regulation. In addition, listing on the NYSE-AMEX requires a $50 million market cap, and a minimum $2.00 share price.

Best Regards,

Charles R. Provini

[jmartin164] RED BANK, N.J., Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-...

jmartin164 — 2/14/2013 9:48:03 AM

RED BANK, N.J., Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) has named Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) to its 2013 TSX Venture 50.

The TSX Venture 50 is a group of strong performing companies from five sectors: Clean Technology; Diversified Industries; Mining; Oil and Gas; and Life Sciences. Natcore was included in the Clean Technology sector. Ten companies were chosen for the list from each of the five sectors.

The companies were ranked based on the following criteria, with equal weighting assigned to each: market capitalization growth, share price appreciation, trading volume and analyst coverage.

The 2,258 companies listed on TSX Venture Exchange as of December 31, 2012, were screened through the following filters to determine which companies would qualify as potential 2013 TSX Venture 50 candidates:
•listed on TSX Venture Exchange more than one year as of December 31, 2012
•listed on TSX Venture Exchange on December 31, 2012
•market capitalization greater than C$5 million on December 31, 2012
•closing share price greater than C$0.25 on December 31, 2012
•share price of at least C$0.10 on December 31, 2011

"We're honored to have been recognized by the TSX Venture Exchange," says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini. "We chose TSX-V as our platform to raise growth capital because Canada is startup-friendly. TSX-V allows new companies to be listed, which leads to much more liquidity and visibility than the U.S. over-the-counter market. Furthermore, TSX-V is very well regulated, resulting in an orderly marketplace with less risk and more stability for investors. Canadian markets have a good reputation worldwide, an important consideration for young companies that have not yet earned investor trust."

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 2013 PR Newswire

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Assigned Patent William Marsh Rice University, Natcore Techn...

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

[jmartin164] January 22, 2013 | Written by Amanda H. Miller Natcore Technology, a New Jerse...

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

[jmartin164] News Natcore Technology Appoints Prominent Italian Solar Scientist to Head New ...

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.

[jmartin164] 12/13/2012 Red Bank, NJ — (December 12, 2012) — After eight years in Beijing wo...

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.

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology To Produce Second AR-Box Solar Cell Processing Station RED...

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

[jmartin164] Natcore Builds World's First Black Silicon Solar Cell Using Scalable Production ...

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

[jmartin164] Email to shareholders I have had several friends and shareholders call to ask ...

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

[jmartin164] Natcore Scientists Build World's First Black Silicon Solar Cell Using Scalable P...

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.. .
.
..

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."

[jmartin164] NanoStop!™ Shielding Fabric NanoStop!™ shielding fabric is a fabric made 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

[jmartin164] Advancing Solar Science Natcore Technology: Changing the World by Advancing So...

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/

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Inc. : 10/01/2012 Natcore's Black Silicon Highlighted at Brig...

jmartin164 — 10/1/2012 3:01:56 PM

Natcore Technology Inc. : 10/01/2012 Natcore's Black Silicon Highlighted at Bright Lights Conference ...link
10/01/2012 | 02:23pm US/Eastern

Natcore's Black Silicon Highlighted at Bright Lights Conference
"Game-Changing Technology" Cited as
Reason for Invitation.

Red Bank, NJ - (October 1, 2012) -Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK was recently a featured presenter at the prestigious Bright Lights Conference, Wall Street's only disruptive technology conference, which focuses exclusively on companies the sponsor believes can transform their industries with game-changing technology.

Natcore was selected as one of 30 public and private companies to present at this invitation-only event. Aimed at making solar power cost-competitive with power generated using fossil fuels, Natcore's technologies produce solar cells by growing thin film anti-reflective coatings on silicon substrates in a liquid bath at ambient pressures. Natcore believes these cells will be less expensive, more productive, and less environmentally harmful than cells produced using standard industry processes.

Natcore's presentation centered on the company's black silicon and tandem solar cell technologies. The conference was attended by institutional and private investors with interest in technology sectors ranging from clean energy to enterprise software to healthcare

"This was the second time in recent months that respected observers have called our technology 'game-changing,'" says Chuck Provini, Natcore president and CEO. "Lux Research used the same language in a research report."

The Bright Lights conference is sponsored by MDB Capital Group, an investment banking and institutional research firm focused exclusively on companies possessing or seeking to develop market changing, disruptive technologies and intellectual property. This was their third annual conference.

#####

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.

http://www.4-traders.com/NATCORE-TECHNOLOGY-INC-5376604/news/Natcore-Technology-Inc-10-01-2012-Natcore-s-Black-Silicon-Highlighted-at-Bright-Lights-Conference-15246382/

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Included in List of "Game Changers" in Lux Research Report ...

jmartin164 — 9/27/2012 9:56:21 AM

Natcore Technology Included in List of "Game Changers" in Lux Research Report

RED BANK, N.J., Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new research report from Lux Research, an independent research and advisory company, has identified Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) 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.

In a Lux news release announcing the report, Natcore was singled out as "the leader in [antireflective and light-trapping coatings] with likely commercialization this year."

In the study titled "Searching for Game Changers in Photovoltaic Materials Innovations: Next-Generation Technologies that Drive Down [Cost/Watt]," Lux Research has created a "Disruptive PV Technology Grid" that quantitatively evaluates new PV technologies for their cost reduction potential and time to market. Using the Grid, Lux Research analysts evaluated technologies on the horizon in order to assess which will be game changers and which will likely never be commercialized.

New innovations that improve existing technologies will lead to reduced costs and higher margins, the report says, noting solar companies that have failed (like Solyndra and Evergreen) did so because they were trying to break the mold instead of improving it. The Lux Research analyst says:

"To avoid future Evergreens and Solyndras, tomorrow's PV winners will focus on innovative PV technologies, addressing $/W [cost/watt] as the single most important metric. One of the key reasons for Solyndra's demise was its high ~$3.5/W. Moreover, Solyndra's technology was hard to scale, wherein [its technology] proved too ambitious for current capabilities.

"Learning from history, next- generation PV technologies that offer both low $/W and are easy to scale using substantially existing PV infrastructure will be the likely winners in the midst of an equally large array of corpses."

"Halve the cost, double the efficiency: That's our mantra," says Chuck Provini, Natcore's president and CEO. "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. We are elated by the validation that this report is giving our scientific and technical staff for the work they have done. We are gratified that our technology has been recognized by another highly respected observer of the solar industry. We look forward to commercializing our disruptive technology."

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

[jmartin164] Natcore expands staff, research operations September 11, 2012 | Written by Ama...

jmartin164 — 9/12/2012 3:02:28 PM

Natcore expands staff, research operations

September 11, 2012 | Written by Amanda H. Miller

Natcore Technology is expanding the roster of high-level scientists on its payroll along with its research and development efforts.
Dr. David Levy, who has a PhD in chemical engineering from MIT, invented atmospheric Spatial Atomic Layer Deposition. He is the latest addition to the Natcore team.
He’s going to carry the company’s “True Black” silicon project to fruition, said Natcore CEO Chuck Provini. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory granted Natcore permission last year to develop its patented black silicon concept using Natcore’s patented liquid phase deposition process.
Provini said Levy is an ideal addition to the Natcore team because he’s a chemist and will bring some new and different perspective.
He will be working with Dr. Dennis Flood, the company’s chief technology officer, and Professor Andrew Barron.
“And he’s experienced in quantum dot technology,” Provini said of Levy.
Provini said he expects to hire two more scientists and Natcore will consolidate all of its research and development operations at the Kodak laboratory in Rochester, New York, where it set up last year. There are currently operations in New Jersey, Texas and Rochester.
Levy is one of several new employees at Natcore who have moved over from Kodak, Provini said.
Natcore announced in July that it raised $2.5 million to fund the necessary research to complete the black silicon project and continue work on its tandem solar cell technology. Part of that $2.5 million is slated to pay for new staff to complete the research and development that will make the technologies ready for commercialization.
But there’s a new element to the company’s growth as well. Since the NREL announcement, Natcore has received a lot of trade press, which has led to companies in hundreds of different disciplines calling to see if Natcore’s technology could work to develop their products.
That research and development work will be part of the company’s new business model, Provini said.

"But our sweet spot is still solar," he said.

http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/natcore-expands-staff-research-operations-091012

[jmartin164] Same announcement although a little more in depth: David Levy Joins Natcore Te...

jmartin164 — 9/9/2012 1:21:19 PM

Same announcement although a little more in depth:

David Levy Joins Natcore Technology As Director of Research & Technology

RED BANK, N.J., Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. David H. Levy, the recipient of a PhD in Chemical Engineering from MIT who invented the atmospheric Spatial Atomic Layer Deposition process (SALD), has joined Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) as Director of Research & Technology.

Dr. Levy brings 20 years of industrial R&D experience with vapor/vacuum coating, nanoparticle synthesis and dispersions, liquid coating, circuits and electronic devices to Natcore, a company that uses its liquid phase deposition (LPD) technology to grow antireflective coatings on silicon wafers for the purpose of creating solar cells.

While working with air-free synthesis of nanoparticles, Dr. Levy also gained familiarity with quantum dot systems. The ability to create a three dimensional matrix of quantum dots is a critical step toward the formation of a fully functioning tandem cell, a principal goal of Natcore scientists. These cells could achieve twice the power output of today's most efficient solar cells.

Dr. Levy's initial technical efforts at Natcore will be focused on two programs: The optimization of their "Absolute Black" technology for coating solar cells, and the completion of a fully automated version of their AR-Box that can utilize that technology. "Absolute Black" refers Natcore's technology that enables a solar cell to absorb 99.7% of the light that reaches it, thereby producing significantly more energy on a daily basis than will a panel made from cells using the industry standard antireflective coating. AR-Box is Natcore's tool that uses their exclusive LPD process to grow antireflective coatings on silicon wafers.

Dr. Levy invented the SALD process while he was a Senior Research Scientist at Eastman Kodak. With primary applications in the semiconductor industry, SALD is now a recognized area of research in the atomic layer deposition community. Of the 64 patents that he has been granted, more than 25 are based on ALD technology. He is the author of six peer-reviewed journal articles, including four papers on ALD. He has been an invited presenter at meetings of the Materials Research Society and the American Vacuum Society.

Dr. Levy earned his BSE in Chemical Engineering in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1992, he earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering, with a minor in Electrical Engineering, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He joined Kodak upon earning his PhD. A native of Dresher, PA, a Philadelphia suburb, and an alumnus of Upper Dublin High School, Dr. Levy lives in Rochester, NY. He will be based at Natcore's R&D Center there.

"As our technology portfolio continues to grow, we need to augment our scientific and intellectual depth," says Chuck Provini, Natcore's president and CEO. "With his combined chemical engineering and electrical engineering background, David Levy is a perfect fit for us. He's the first of several PhDs we plan to hire."

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
732-576-880
Info@natcoresolar.com

PR Newswire ( http://s.tt/1mDE1)
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/david-levy-joins-natcore-technology-as-director-of-research--technology-168754076.html

[jmartin164] Natcore names director of research and technology Rochester Business Journal ...

jmartin164 — 9/9/2012 1:12:50 AM

Natcore names director of research and technology

Rochester Business Journal
September 6, 2012

David Levy, a former senior research scientist at Eastman Kodak Co., has been named director of research and technology at Natcore Technology Inc. at Eastman Business Park, Natcore officials said Thursday.

Levy, a native of the Philadelphia area, will focus on optimizing Natcore’s absolute black technology for coating solar cells and on completing a fully automated version of the company’s AR-box process station that uses the technology, officials said.

At Kodak, Levy invented a technique called spatial atomic layer deposition, officials said. The technique is used to produce ultrathin conformal films with atomic level control over thickness.

“As our technology portfolio continues to grow, we need to augment our scientific and intellectual depth,” Natcore president and CEO Charles Provini said in a statement.

“With his combined chemical engineering and electrical engineering background, David Levy is a perfect fit for us. He’s the first of several Ph.D.s we plan to hire.”

Levy holds a doctorate in chemical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has 20 years of industrial research and development experience with vapor-vacuum coating, nanoparticle synthesis and dispersions, liquid coating, circuits and electronic devices, officials said.

Natcore uses its liquid phase deposition technology to grow antireflective coatings on silicon wafers to create solar cells.

(c) 2012 Rochester Business Journal. To obtain permission to reprint this article, call 585-546-8303 or email service@rbj.net.

[jmartin164] Natcore awarded use of government solar patents Company will be allowed to comme...

jmartin164 — 8/17/2012 4:45:20 PM

Natcore awarded use of government solar patents Company will be allowed to commercialize patented technology for renewable energyWritten by SEAN LAHMAN Patents columnist

Zoom

A researcher displays a black silicon solar cell, developed by Natcore Technology. / Provided photo

I’m pretty bullish on solar. It’s not because I’m an environmentalist, although the idea of sustainable energy is a laudable one.

My interest is prompted by the significant technological advances made in the last few years, including a number of patents issued to Rochester-based companies in the solar energy field.

They’ve helped to both increase the efficiency of solar cells and dramatically reduce the cost. All indications are that this trend will continue, and that we’re getting closer to making solar power a viable choice for homeowners.

There are about a dozen solar energy companies based in Rochester, driven in part by our strong background in optics: Reflexite Energy Solutions makes solar lens components. SPX Thermal Product Solutions makes crystal growing furnaces, used to produce photovoltaic wafers. Solar Sentry developed a system to monitor solar arrays.

One of the newest faces on the scene is Natcore Technology, a New Jersey-based company that opened a research and development laboratory at Eastman Business Park in March. The technology they’re working on could be a game-changer.

Last week, the company announced it had licensed patents from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.

The NREL patents cover a material called “black silicon.” A silicon wafer is etched to create nano-scale pores, increasing the surface area exposed to sunlight. It’s not really black, but appears that way due to the absence of reflected light. A panel made from black silicon solar cells will produce a significantly greater amount of energy, and will perform better during the morning and afternoon hours when the sun is at a lower angle.

In addition to generating more energy, the black silicon solar cells are less expensive to produce. In a press release announcing the patent licensing agreement, CEO Chuck Provini was optimistic about the impact of the technology. “This could be another step toward our goal of halving the cost and doubling the output of solar cells,” he said.

Sean Lahman’s column runs on Sunday. Follow him on Twitter @Sean Lahman or reach him at (585) 258-2369.

democratandchronicle.com

[jmartin164] NREL Expands Natcore's License To Develop "Black Silicon" Solar Cells RED BAN...

jmartin164 — 8/6/2012 8:50:34 PM

NREL Expands Natcore's License To Develop "Black Silicon" Solar Cells RED BANK, N.J., Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- By adding new patents to its original license to Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has expanded that license under which Natcore will develop and commercialize a line of black silicon products based on NREL patents.

"Black silicon" refers to the apparent color of the surface of a silicon wafer after it has been etched with nano-scale pores; the black color results from the absence of reflected light from the porous wafer surface.

Natcore's antireflective coating process begins with an uncoated, textured silicon wafer. First, nanoscale pores are etched into the wafer surface, using gold or silver nanoparticles, by submerging the wafer for a few minutes in a liquid solution at room temperature. Next, using the company's liquid phase deposition (LPD) process, Natcore scientists fill the pores and then over-coat them with silicon dioxide. This combination step both coats and passivates, thereby allowing lower reflectance.

NREL's most meaningful new black silicon patent relates to the use of copper nanoparticles in the etching process instead of nanoparticles of gold or silver.

"Because copper is less expensive than the precious metals, this new patent could enable Natcore to further reduce the cost of solar cells," says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini. "This could be another step toward our goal of halving the cost and increasing the output of solar cells."

Natcore scientists have created a black surface on a silicon wafer with an average reflectance in the visible and near-infrared region of the solar spectrum of 0.3%, making it the "blackest" silicon solar cell surface ever recorded. Natcore refers to this surface as "Absolute Black."

The original NREL-Natcore license was granted in December 2011. Natcore and NREL have also entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to develop commercial prototypes that embody NREL's black silicon inventions.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC.

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 Provini732-576-8800

SOURCE Natcore Technology Inc.

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Closes $2.5 MM Non-Brokered Private Placement 55 minutes a...

jmartin164 — 7/20/2012 2:41:21 PM

Natcore Technology Closes $2.5 MM Non-Brokered Private Placement
55 minutes ago - PR Newswire via Comtex
Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has today completed a C$2.5 million private placement. The funds will be used to complete optimization of the company's promising black silicon technology and to build a production version of Natcore's AR-Box(TM) processing station. This version would be capable of etching and coating cells with black silicon at a rate of 1,500 to 2,000 cells per hour.

The financing was announced on July 3. Natcore received gross proceeds of C$2,500,000, pursuant to the issuance of 4,166,167 units at a price of C$0.60 per unit. The overallotment has received regulatory approval, including the sanction of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Each unit comprised one common share and one warrant, with each warrant enabling purchase of a further common share at C$0.90 for a period of two years from closing. In the event that Natcore shares close at over C$1.60 for 20 consecutive trading days, the warrants will be subject to accelerated conversion within 30 days' notice of the company disseminating a press release providing notice of that circumstance. All securities issued pursuant to the placement are subject to a hold period expiring on November 21, 2012.

Finder's fees were paid on a portion of the financing, such that an aggregate of $104,710 was paid in cash and 22,516 finder's warrants were issued, having the same terms as the warrants forming part of the units and 152,000 finder's unit warrants were issued exercisable to acquire units on the same terms as the units issued in the financing at an exercise price of $0.60 per unit for a period of two years.

"Although this placement had been planned for several months, the $2.5 million came in very quickly," says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini. "We easily could have raised twice as much, but we raised only what we needed for the tasks at hand. We wanted to avoid dilution."

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 Provini732-576-8800

SOURCE Natcore Technology Inc.

[jmartin164] Natcore Technologies is on the cusp of making its first sales. The New Jersey c...

jmartin164 — 6/26/2012 2:41:43 PM

Natcore Technologies is on the cusp of making its first sales. The New Jersey company is testing its liquid-phase deposition technology on solar cells from several solar manufacturers in North America, Europe and China. “If they meet the specs these people want, I think the timeline will be now,” said Natcore president and CEO Chuck Provini.

This is the last step on Natcore’s path to commercialization. The company is made up of a collection of entrepreneurs and scientists who wanted to revolutionize the solar industry.

From the beginning, the company’s principals were looking to this end. They developed a more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to build solar cells and deposit anti-reflective or other layers on traditional solar cells using a chemical bath rather than the standard heat treatment.

Natcore announced an agreement to develop the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’ “ black silicon” technology at the end of 2011. Black silicon reflects less light than standard silicon solar cells, making them more efficient and increasing their energy output significantly.

Five solar panel manufacturers have commissioned Natcore to research use of its process and machinery in their production.

While Natcore has caught some heat over its agreements with overseas businesses rather than domestic ones from mainstream media, trade publications have made businesses aware of the technology, Provini said.

“We’ve had a lot of people coming to us, saying ‘we think your technology can help us,’” Provini said. “Sometimes they’re related to solar and sometimes they’re not.”

The agreement with NREL launched the company into the spotlight and made solar manufacturers in the US and abroad look to the start-up. Several of them are considering buying Natcore’s machinery. They just need to know it will work for their specific applications first.

“These people are manufacturers,” Provini said. “They don’t have resources for a lot of Research and Development. We can do it for them.”

Natcore on the cusp of commercialization

June 26, 2012 | Written by Amanda H. Miller | Hits: 48

cleanenergyauthority.com

[doudaibk] NXT is poping on this news this morning, up 7.35% so far. canada.stoxline.com

doudaibk — 6/25/2012 11:12:46 AM

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Receives R&D Assignments From North American, European and ...

jmartin164 — 6/25/2012 10:45:01 AM

Natcore Technology Receives R&D Assignments From North American, European and Chinese Solar Firms

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Successful tests could result in near-term sales.

RED BANK, N.J., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Five solar device manufacturers — two from North America, two from China and one from Europe--have asked Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) to determine if Natcore's black silicon and liquid phase deposition (LPD) processes can help them reduce costs and improve performance of their solar energy products. The companies typically use plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to deposit films on their products.

The two North American companies have sent Natcore sample wafers, some to process with black silicon, some with Natcore's proprietary LPD surface passivation technology and some with both processes.

Both Chinese manufacturers have also asked Natcore to apply an "absolute black" antireflective coating (i.e., Natcore's super low reflectance black silicon with LPD silica passivation) to the sample wafers they have provided.

The European manufacturer wants Natcore to process wafers with a very thin LPD silica layer. The thin layer is an integral part of the cell structure the company now has in pilot production, and successful insertion of Natcore's technology will enable a major reduction of cell manufacturing costs.

Natcore's proprietary LPD process makes it possible to grow a wide range of inorganic materials--such as silicon dioxide-based films—on a range of substrates using a room-temperature, environmentally friendly chemical bath — thereby eliminating the need for harsh and expensive CVD methods currently used in industry.

The work will be completed using Natcore's AR-Box™ at their R&D Center in Rochester, NY. AR-Box is Natcore's intelligent processing station that uses the LPD process to grow thin film coatings on various substrates.

"These companies came to us because they were aware of our successes with LPD and black silicon," says Chuck Provini, Natcore President and CEO. "If the results are what we anticipate for these tests, these companies would very likely be significant near-term customers for our AR-Box, an LPD license, and the requisite chemicals."

"Furthermore," says Provini, "we've been negotiating a number of potential joint ventures in various global markets. Successful commercial tests will strengthen our hand in those negotiations."

Statements herein 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.

Source: PR Newswire ( http://s.tt/1fN7M)

[jmartin164] press release June 5, 2012, 12:59 p.m. EDT Natcore Technology, NREL Ch...

jmartin164 — 6/5/2012 10:23:19 PM

press release

June 5, 2012, 12:59 p.m. EDT

Natcore Technology, NREL Chosen to Present Paper to IEEE

RED BANK, N.J., June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Natcore Technology Inc. /quotes/zigman/545838 CA:NXT -9.68% and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have been selected to present a technical paper to the 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, the pre-eminent global technical conference in photovoltaics. It is sponsored by the world's largest professional association for the advancement of technology, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

Titled "Antireflection and Silicon Dioxide Surface Passivation by Liquid-Phase Chemistry for Efficient Black Silicon Solar Cells," the paper was co-authored by Hao-Chih Yuan, Jihun Oh and Howard M. Branz of NREL, and by Yuanchang Zhang, Oleg A. Kuznetsov and Dennis J. Flood of Natcore. The oral presentation was made by Dr. Yuan in Austin, TX, on June 4.

The paper concludes that the integration of black silicon solar cells with low-cost liquid phase deposition (LPD) silicon dioxide demonstrates that LPD solar cells (1) retain low reflectivity of the black silicon surface, and (2) provide better surface passivation quality compared with the thermally grown silicon dioxide. Further optimization of the key processing steps could promise an extremely low-cost and high-efficiency black silicon solar cell, work that is being carried out by Natcore and NREL.

"Black silicon" refers to the apparent color of the surface of a silicon wafer after it has been etched with nano-scale pores; the black color results from the absence of reflected light from the porous wafer surface. Natcore has been granted an exclusive patent license from NREL in the field of diffused emitters with liquid phase passivation to develop and commercialize a line of black silicon products based on NREL patents. Natcore and NREL have also agreed to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to develop commercial prototypes that embody NREL's black silicon inventions.

A panel made from black silicon solar cells will produce a significantly greater amount of energy (KwHrs) on a daily basis than will a panel made from cells using the industry standard thin film coating, not only because the reflectance is lower but also because the angular dependence of the reflectance from black silicon is much lower. The latter fact means a black silicon panel will perform better during the morning and afternoon hours when the sun hits at an angle and will also outperform standard cell panels on cloudy days. The combination of lower cost and higher energy output per kilowatt of installed array peak power should quickly make black silicon the antireflection control technology of choice in the industry.

Although black silicon solar cells have been studied since the 1980s, a key obstacle to turning their increased light absorption into increased power output is a significantly increased area of exposed silicon on the sidewalls of the pores and on the small mesas that remain at the top surface of the wafer itself. This increased area must be passivated, or treated to keep it from trapping the light-generated electric charges as they migrate toward the contacts of the solar cell, a process that robs the cell of output power.

"Natcore has the ability to passivate black silicon cells cost effectively using their LPD technology. That has been the missing piece. It's what will enable black silicon to reach its potential," says Dr. Dennis Flood, a Natcore founder and the company's Chief Technology Officer.

"Before Natcore's passivation technology, it was necessary to put coated cells into a 1,000 deg. C. furnace to create a thermal oxide," continues Flood. "Natcore's LPD silica coating achieves passivation without requiring an extra thermal process. The combined NREL-Natcore technologies will reduce cost by eliminating the need for thermal oxidation. And they'll increase output by enabling cells to be more productive throughout all daylight hours."

"NREL asked Natcore if we would like to submit a joint paper for presentation at the conference," says Dr. Flood. "I agreed, and the paper was accepted by the program committee for an oral presentation. Most of the papers are presented as posters, so getting selected for an oral presentation means the committee felt the paper had significant technical merit. About one in ten papers are selected for oral presentation." Dr. Flood had been on the organizing committee for the conference since his days at NASA. He held several positions, from publication chair to program chair to general chair and international committee chair. He has been affiliated with the conference for over 32 years.

The IEEE is the world's largest technical society and is the official conference sponsor. It will be attended by about 2000 persons in academic institutions and company laboratories from more than 40 countries worldwide. It is considered the premier technical conference on photovoltaic energy conversion and is the longest running conference on the topic.

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 Provini732-576-8800

SOURCE Natcore Technology Inc.

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

marketwatch.com

[jmartin164] Cantech Letter talks to Chuck Provini, CEO of Natcore Technology April 5, 2012 ...

jmartin164 — 4/6/2012 11:54:01 AM

Cantech Letter talks to Chuck Provini, CEO of Natcore Technology
April 5, 2012 By Cantech 0 Comments and 1 Reaction

Natcore Technology CEO Chuck Provini: "As far as alternative energy, solar is the only alternative that actually works long term."

What’s the price of a litre of gas today? No really, it’s that much?

The story of our energy consumption is a complex moving target. Hike the price at the pumps in April and you’ll see more SmartCars on the road by June, and a wind farm proposal somewhere will have just increased its chances of success.

Often lost in all of this is the steady, incremental advances of the technology behind solar energy. The bad news about solar is that it is still a tough gig, and remains dependent upon government subsidies. The good news is that if you thought solar was unsustainable a decade ago, the industry of today bears little resemblance to that one.

In 2009, First Solar (NASD:FSLR) brought the cost of manufacturing its solar panels down to a dollar per watt, a milestone that has been improved significantly in the short time since.

Natcore Technology (TSXV:NXT) hopes to carry the solar baton across the finish line that is broad commercial adoption. The company’s technology, which is licensed from Rice University in Houston, replaces the traditional chemical vapour deposition method used in solar applications with a wet chemistry process. This removes the need for silane, which is highly toxic and flammable. Natcore can also use the waste materials from the initial production of the silicon wafers or from the production of semiconductors, which allows facilities currently using the chemical vapour deposition method to potentially lower their cost of goods. Natcore believes this technology will replace expensive vacuum based furnaces with a silicon dioxide-based film that is grown in an environmentally friendly chemical bath. Last week, Natcore reported it had used these simple liquid-bath processes to create the least reflective solar cell surface ever recorded. Cantech Letter caught up with CEO Chuck Provini to talk about these advances.

Chuck, your press release last week said Natcore has created it the blackest silicon solar cell surface ever recorded. What does this mean?

Specifically it means that we have demonstrated and measured a reflectance of .3 on the black silicon wafers we coated. This means that 99.7% of the sun was absorbed and .03% was reflected. That is the lowest reflectance number ever published.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Solar sometimes gets a bad rap, but the usage cost seem to be coming down dramatically. In what particular instances do you think solar is now competitive, market wise?

Although solar prices are coming down dramatically it is predominantly due to China dumping significant product on the world market. There still needs to be dramatic improvements to efficiency as well as reduction in cost. Our technology is in the process of doing both. That being said, as business people, we move to fill the vacuum in the market place. Currently the vacuum exists in Europe where they now pay in excess of $10 a gallon for gas. Our wet bench tool, when substituted for a traditional thermal furnace, will save an Italian cell manufacturer $1.2 million per replaced machine just in the cost of electricity alone. It is for that reason we have a partnership with MX Solar, the largest panel manufacturer in Italy. I suspect our gas prices here in the U.S. will dramatically increase, especially if the administration eliminates the tax benefits the oil companies currently enjoy. As far as alternative energy, however, solar is the only alternative that actually works long term.

Can you tell us a bit about your partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory? What do you hope to accomplish with them, and if you do achieve what you want to, who is watching?

Provini: "At some point in time, if the solar industry is to become a mature and effective alternative, this toxic waste issue will have to be resolved."

We have an exclusive worldwide license agreement to commercialize their black silicon invention. NREL invented black silicon several years ago but our technology is the only technology that got it to work. The relationship with NREL is in the form of a CRADA which in essence is a joint research and development agreement whereby the Department of Energy matches a portion of the money contributed by Natcore to achieve very specific goals. We, in essence, are leveraging NREL’s resources and vast experience in developing black silicon in order to move our commercialization efforts ahead faster.

What are some of the early markets you see Natcore’s technology being applied to?

The black silicon product will be coveted by project programs whereby municipalities or governments are installing solar farms. We are comfortable that the black silicon alternative will increase power output of these facilities by as much as 10%. Perhaps, more importantly, this power output will not be effected very much by diffused light or on cloudy days. This is perhaps one of the biggest benefits of black silicon.

What is your cash position like? Will you need to go back to market before you commercialize?

It is our intention to have a joint venture partnership to fund commercialization prior to having to go back to the market place ourselves. We will have a more specific idea before the summer.

Can you give us an overview of your current patents? How does Natcore’s expertise in solar differ from other solar players?

Natcore, in essence, is changing the way solar panels are manufactured. We are replacing the vacuum thermal furnace method with a wet bench or Liquid Phase Deposition process. Not only does this reduce the cost since the furnaces are incredibly expensive to operate, but it also allows significant achievements in efficiencies of solar cells. Perhaps just as importantly, this manufacturing process eliminates the severe environmental impact the furnaces introduce to the process. The Natcore process has very little toxic waste compared to the traditional manufacturing process. At some point in time, if the solar industry is to become a mature and effective alternative, this toxic waste issue will have to be resolved. Our process with some dilution and occasional additives can achieve a Hazmat ranking of zero which means it can literally be poured down the drain. It is this last benefit that has intrigued the Chinese recently.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

cantechletter.com

[jmartin164] Dear Shareholder, I am always excited when I announce a technology breakthroug...

jmartin164 — 3/29/2012 12:03:56 PM

Dear Shareholder,

I am always excited when I announce a technology breakthrough by Natcore scientists, but this one has me exhilarated.

We are announcing today that Dr. Dennis Flood and his staff have created black silicon cells that have a reflectance of 0.3%. That’s the lowest reflectance ever recorded for silicon solar cells. It means that only 0.3% of incident light is reflected from the solar cell’s surface, while 99.7% of incident light is absorbed by the cell and is available for conversion into electrical energy.

If absolute zero is the complete absence of heat, then our scientists have created absolute black, the complete absence of reflected light. (The black color of black silicon results from the near-total absence of reflected light from the porous wafer surface. With solar cells, “blackness” is highly desirable because it indicates that incident light is being absorbed for conversion to energy rather than being reflected and thus wasted.)

In a world where companies are struggling to increase the power output of a solar panel by fractions of one percent, absolute black silicon will provide a 2.5% to 3.5% increase. And the fact that our low reflectance figure is available throughout the day—not just when the sun is directly overhead—has the same effect as increasing solar cell production by an additional 3% to 10%.

This is such an impressive development that Ned Potter, the science editor of ABC News, gave it extensive coverage today. In the world of science and technology, Mr. Potter is very well-known and highly respected reporter. His story appears here:

< http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/03/absolute-black-solar-panels-absorb-almost-a ll-sunlight/>

You can get more details in the news release that appears below.

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

[jmartin164] ..Natcore Scientists Create "Absolute Black." Company's black silicon cells hav...

jmartin164 — 3/29/2012 10:02:36 AM

..Natcore Scientists Create "Absolute Black."
Company's black silicon cells have lowest reflectance ever recorded for silicon solar cells

Press Release: Natcore Technology Inc. – 6 minutes ago
....
......
RED BANK, N.J., March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists at Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK), using simple liquid bath processes, have created a black surface on a silicon wafer with an average reflectance in the visible and near-infrared region of the solar spectrum of 0.3%, making it the "blackest" silicon solar cell surface ever recorded. Compared with standard production cells now available, this represents a tenfold reduction in reflectance over that portion of the spectrum, which is the source of about 80% of the usable power that can be drawn from sunlight.

The black color of black silicon results from the near-total absence of reflected light from the porous wafer surface. With solar cells, "blackness" is highly desirable because it indicates that incident light is being absorbed for conversion to energy rather than being reflected and thus wasted.

Quantitatively, reflectance is the proportion of light striking a surface that is reflected from it. Thus a reflectance of 0.3% means that only 0.3% of incident light is reflected from the solar cell's surface, while 99.7% of incident light is absorbed by the cell and is available for conversion into electrical energy.

A tenfold reduction in reflectance would mean that up to 3% more usable light would get into the cell, effectively increasing the cell efficiency by that amount. (An 18% efficient cell becomes an 18.5% cell, for example.)

But there are additional benefits to be derived from black silicon. A panel made from black silicon solar cells will produce significantly more energy on a daily basis than will a panel made from cells using the industry standard antireflective coating. First, because it reflects less light. Second, because it performs better during the morning and afternoon hours when the sun hits at an angle. (It also outperforms 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.

Natcore's process began with an uncoated, textured silicon wafer that had an average reflectance of approximately 8%, giving it a mottled gray appearance. First, nanoscale pores were etched into the wafer surface by submerging it for a few minutes in a liquid solution at room temperature. Next, using the company's liquid phase deposition (LPD) process, Natcore scientists filled the pores and then over-coated them with silicon dioxide. This combination step both coated and passivated, thereby allowing lower reflectance. After the surface treatments were completed, the wafers were taken to the State of Ohio's Photovoltaic Research and Development Center at the University of Toledo, where the reflectance was measured.

This is the latest milestone in Natcore's drive to improve the performance of solar cells. Conventional cells, with antireflective coatings made via a chemical vapor deposition process that requires a high-temperature vacuum furnace and hazardous gases, have a reflectance of about 4%. With black silicon, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) lowered the number below 2%. Now Natcore's technology has reduced it to 0.3%, or virtually zero. "Absolute black is to reflected light as absolute zero is to heat," says Dr. Dennis Flood, Natcore's Chief Technology Officer. "And getting close to zero reflectance with a process that we can use for the production of commercial solar cells is simply astounding."

Natcore was recently granted an exclusive license by NREL to develop and commercialize a line of black silicon products based on NREL patents. Natcore's reflectance accomplishment came about as a natural part of its work associated with that license.

"We are already working with two equipment manufacturers to design a production tool," says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini. "The tool would make 2,000 black silicon wafers per hour. We'll establish other parameters in our lab. When the design is completed, we'll take orders for the tool. We have already begun talking with potential customers in Italy, China and India."`

"This latest achievement further strengthens our position as the sole provider of the best antireflection control technology available to silicon solar cell manufacturers," adds Provini.

William Farris, NREL's Vice President of Commercialization & Technology Transfer, says "NREL has a long history of working with companies to move renewable energy technologies to the market. We're encouraged and gratified at Natcore's success as it relates to our commercial license agreement for NREL's black silicon technology."

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

[jmartin164] http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/03/absolute-black-solar-panels-absor...

jmartin164 — 3/29/2012 10:01:26 AM

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/03/absolute-black-solar-panels-absorb-almost-all-sunlight/

‘Absolute Black’ Solar Panels Absorb Almost All Sunlight

By Ned Potter

Mar 29, 2012 7:00am

Solar power is one of those technologies that have been promised to be just a few years from profitability for 30 years. Solar panels are an environmentalist’s dream — limitless electricity from the sun with no air pollution or carbon dioxide emissions — but they’ve had a hard time competing with coal, natural gas, oil and other sources of energy.
Can that change? A company called Natcore Technology says it may be on to something. It reports it has developed “absolute black” silicon wafers for solar panels that will absorb 99.7 percent of the visible light falling on them. The most efficient solar panels devised up to now have been able to absorb 96 percent. In a business where every photon counts, Natcore said the difference could be important.

“One of the ways this matters,” said Chuck Provini, the company’s CEO, “is that there isn’t a whole lot of difference between the electricity you get on a sunny day vs. a cloudy day. Diffused light won’t matter that much.”
The new panels, Provini said, will be safer to produce and help drive down the price of solar energy.
“Black silicon will improve power output and reduce cost — the two things that matter most,” he said.
“Solar has changed a lot in the last few years,” said Monique Hanis of the Solar Energy Industries Association in an email. “As of 2011, there are 100,000 Americans working in solar [according to The Solar Foundation's 2011 Jobs Census] at 5,600 companies across all 50 states, including many small business. Solar installations doubled in 2011 and there are enough projects in the pipeline to power 2 million households.”
The cost of solar power has kept edging downward at a time when the price of oil has been going up – something that makes it promising to its champions, but also makes it a political football. Last week, President Obama talked up the need for all sorts of new energy sources, from solar and wind energy to new pumping of oil and gas.
“You’d think that everybody would be supportive of solar power,” Obama said at a solar plant in Nevada. “And yet, if some politicians had their way, there won’t be any more public investment in solar energy. There won’t be as many new jobs.”
Those “some politicians,” of course, include Obama’s Republican challengers for the White House. Rick Santorum, campaigning among oil workers in Louisiana, pressed the president to open more federal land for oil drilling – a step, he argued, toward lower energy costs.
“Here’s an opportunity for us in this country to do something about it: increasing jobs, lowering energy prices, decreasing the deficit, all of the things you would think he president of the United States would be for,” Santorum said.
Solar power remains a small part of the nation’s energy mix, but high oil prices give it new visibility. Natcore hopes to be making solar panels from its new wafers in four to six weeks.
“People have been trying to get black silicon to work for years now,” said Provini.

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Becomes Case Study at Harvard Business School PR Newswire ...

jmartin164 — 3/21/2012 11:01:04 AM

Natcore Technology Becomes Case Study at Harvard Business School
PR Newswire

RED BANK, N.J., March 21, 2012

RED BANK, N.J., March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXV.PK), the solar technology company with a joint venture in Zhuzhou City, China, and with ongoing discussions with other Chinese manufacturers, has become the subject of a case study at Harvard Business School.

Designed for the course "Doing Business in China," the case is intended to facilitate class study around joint venture investment in China and comparative industrial policy, particularly in the clean tech area. The course is taught by Dr. Regina M. Abrami, Senior Fellow, Asian Business and Globalization.

Named "Journey to the East: Natcore Technology in China," the case provides a comprehensive examination of Natcore's joint venture and how it came into existence. The topics included Natcore's history and technology; Natcore's decision to finance their growth without the use of venture capitalists; China's energy statistics; major differences in industrial policies of the U.S. and China; and how Natcore is protecting its intellectual property.

The case was developed by Dr. Abrami and was based on a series of interviews with Natcore President/CEO Chuck Provini. It was first presented by Dr. Abrami to Harvard students on February 9, with Mr. Provini in attendance. At that class, Dr. Abrami led the case discussion and then turned the floor over to Mr. Provini to reflect on student comments and to answer questions.

"As I expected, I met exceptional students," says Natcore President/CEO Chuck Provini. "This class could be a valuable source of future Natcore executives." "We were grateful to have an opportunity to study this important venture in one of China's fastest growing sectors," says Dr. Abrami.

[jmartin164] Good article. National Renewable Energy Lab Bets On Black Silicon Solar Power ...

jmartin164 — 3/14/2012 5:08:45 PM

Good article.

National Renewable Energy Lab Bets On Black Silicon Solar Power

Photo of Natcore's tandem solar panels.
Ads by GooglePv ControllerPrevent Overcharging with Quality Charge Controllers. Low Prices. www.SolarBlvd.comshare close StumbleUpon Instapaper Reddit digg Carl Franzen- March 14, 2012, 10:53 AM 503027
TINA CASEY

Just when you think silicon is getting nudged aside as the material of choice for making photovoltaic cells, along comes the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The NREL on Tuesday announced it’s entered into an agreement with Natcore Technology Inc., a Red Bank, NJ-based company, to develop a low cost way to manufacture high efficiency solar cells using NREL’s latest innovation, a black silicon antireflective layer on solar cells.

The agreement calls for relatively small spending on the part of NREL and Natcore, at least to begin with: Each company will spend $150,000 over the next year to reach their stated goals of cutting the cost of panels between 2 and 3 percent and increasing the energy output of the panels throughout one day of operation by 3 to 10 percent. The agreement allows the companies to decide later if they want to increase funding together.

“Our technology will create a new American industry,” says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini, in a news release on Tuesday. “We’ve been trying for two years to get financial support from the Department of Energy. This is a meaningful first step.”

NREL expects a huge bang for its buck. Last December the lab granted Natcore exclusive rights to develop its black silicon patents into commercial products. The new agreement combines NREL’s work with Natcore’s own proprietary treatment for boosting silicon solar cell efficiency.

Black silicon does not actually refer to the color of the panels per se. It describes the appearance of a silicon wafer after it has been etched with tiny pores.

Researchers have found that the pores enable a silicon solar cell to capture more sunlight throughout the day, including morning and afternoon hours when the sun is not at an optimal angle.

NREL has demonstrated that a typical silicon solar cell treated with its black silicon process has a solar conversion efficiency of almost 17 percent, compared to the 11 to 15 percent commonly seen in standard polysilicon solar panels.

NREL’s new etching process, which won a top award from R&D Magazine in 2010, consists of a one-step immersion in a chemical bath. The low-cost bath (just a few cents per watt, according to NREL) replaces hazardous gases that are used in conventional silicon etching.

In the chemical bath, nanoparticles of gold form in a mixture of chloroauric acid (a hydrogen-chlorine-gold combo), hydrogen peroxide and hydrofluoric acid. The gold sparks a series of chemical reactions that etch tiny pores - tiny, as in a billionth of a meter in diameter - into the surface of a silicon wafer.

As described by NREL, the pores: “are much smaller than the wavelength of the incident light, so they suppress reflection across the full spectrum of sunlight.”

NREL continues:

“As the tiny holes deepen, they make the metallic gray silicon appear increasingly dark until it becomes almost pure black, absorbing nearly all frequencies of sunlight. The surface becomes riddled with minute pores of varying depths with no sharp interfaces that would reflect light, creating a highly absorbent silicon wafer.” The whole process takes about three minutes at room temperature, saving both time and energy. If a higher throughput is desired, a boost to 100 degrees Fahrenheit speeds the process up to less than a minute.

Natcore’s contribution to the effort is a patented “liquid phase deposition” (LPD) process that will boost efficiency even further. LPD is a type of passivation technology, that is, a technology to chemically treat the surface of the solar cells to make sure that the sides of the pores don’t stop electricity from migrating throughout the panel.

Like NREL’s chemical bath, Natcore’s technology is based on a low cost, low energy liquid process. In addition to increasing solar cell efficiency, Natcore’s LPD process can also help create a more durable, long lasting surface.

As Natcore proudly explains on its website: “We think LPD is the future of solar. It is at the core of everything we do. It results in solar cells of higher quality, and is safer, cleaner and less expensive,” than the alternative processes of passivating solar cells used by Natcore’s competitors.

Overall, Natcore’s and NREL’s emphasis on low manufacturing costs is a key element of President Obama’s SunShot Initiative, which calls for achieving price parity between solar energy and fossil fuels within ten years.

http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/national-renewable-energy-lab-bets-on-black-silicon-solar-power.php?ref=fpblg

[jmartin164] Letter from President Dear Investor, I feel the importance of this CRADA (Col...

jmartin164 — 3/13/2012 10:34:54 AM

Letter from President

Dear Investor,

I feel the importance of this CRADA (Collaborative Research and Development Agreement) with NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab) is not just the fact that the DOE (Department of Energy) will be contributing resources, but more importantly that Natcore will be entering into a collaboration with perhaps one of the most respected and knowledgeable photovoltaic facilities in the world. We are sending three of our scientific teams to Golden Colorado next week to begin identifying the specific functions that are necessary to move this black silicon process to commercialization sooner than later.

There is also no doubt in my mind that in addition to moving black silicon along quickly, we will be exposed to other technologies in NREL’s portfolio of patents. I am confident that we will find other opportunities to integrate Natcore’s technologies with NREL’s as we are doing in the black silicon collaboration.

If you have any comments or questions, as usual, I am anxious to speak with you.

Best Regards,

Charles R Provini

President & CEO

Natcore Technology, Inc.

87 Maple Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701

732-576-8800, fax 732-576-8809

[jmartin164] NREL to Invest With Natcore in $150,000 Black Silicon Research Project PrintAle...

jmartin164 — 3/13/2012 9:28:01 AM

NREL to Invest With Natcore in $150,000 Black Silicon Research Project
PrintAlert
Natcore Tech (GM) (USOTC:NTCXF)
Intraday Stock Chart
Today : Tuesday 13 March 2012
NREL to Invest With Natcore in $150,000 Black Silicon Research Project
PR Newswire

RED BANK, N.J., March 13, 2012

RED BANK, N.J., March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the granting of their exclusive licensing agreement with National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has entered a Cooperative Research & Development Agreement with NREL. Under the terms of the CRADA, Natcore and NREL would work together to reach two goals:

1. Reduce solar cell costs by 2%–3%, and;

2. Increase solar panel energy output from 3% to 10% over the course of a day without the aid of a solar tracking mechanism.

These goals would be accomplished by combining Natcore's patented liquid phase deposition (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 an earlier Natcore/NREL effort that produced a cell with 16.5% efficiency.

NREL holds the world record for a cell made with black silicon at 18.6% but they had to make it using a passivation technology that requires thermal oxidation. Natcore will replace that cumbersome step with its LPD oxide process. The combination of the two technologies could significantly exceed NREL's record cell efficiency.

Under the terms of the CRADA, the parties will spend $150,000 to reach the stated goals. That amount may be increased if both parties so agree. The initial CRADA has a duration of one year.

"Our technology will create a new American industry," says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini. "We've been trying for two years to get financial support from the Department of Energy. This is a meaningful first step."

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC.

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 Provini732-576-8800

SOURCE Natcore Technology Inc.

[jmartin164] Much better video: rochesterhomepage.net

jmartin164 — 3/10/2012 8:45:12 AM

[jmartin164] Working in the Clean Room at Natcore mpnnow.com

jmartin164 — 3/8/2012 11:29:05 AM

[jmartin164] Letter from Tom Scarpa Thanks for the e-mails. I’ll try to answer your questio...

jmartin164 — 3/6/2012 12:17:35 PM

Letter from Tom Scarpa

Thanks for the e-mails. I’ll try to answer your questions.
The AR Box that we are finally able to test in Rochester is the prototype. The commercial version will be much larger and will be completely automated. We have drawings and have been in discussions with manufacturers, including Micro Tech, to build a commercial machine. Because of the developments with black silicon and the license agreement with NREL, that technology needs to be an option in the commercial model and we are still testing that.

The meetings in Rochester last month went very well. The Chinese group was there the entire week of February 13th. They were interested in developing all of our technologies but, quite frankly, we are a little reluctant to take all of the development to China. They are interested in the Roll-to-Roll technology and with Kodak’s problems we may do that technology in China. The JV with them would involve the building of a manufacturing facility. The cost would be funded by the Chinese so the negotiations regarding the JV have become a bit more complicated. We are still confident that a deal will be done.

That’s part of the reason behind all the discussion regarding the roll-to roll. The black silicon is very close to commercialization so we believe that roll-to-roll could be next.

The visit from the Italians also went well. They have their own economic woes but our JV with MX also involves the building of a manufacturing facility and, again, that has made those negotiations complicated. As you know manufacturing has never been a part of our business model but these JV’s involve manufacturing so we want to make sure that any deals are in the best interest of Natcore and its shareholders. After all the largest shareholders are the founders, directors and officers of the Company.

I hope that these answers have been helpful. There will be a lot of news in the next couple of months and we will do our best to keep everyone updated as best we can.

Best regards,
Thomas J. Scarpa
Senior Vice President

[jmartin164] Natcore Technology Opens Solar Research Center in Kodak's Business Park; Lab w...

jmartin164 — 3/6/2012 12:23:44 AM

Natcore Technology Opens Solar Research Center in Kodak's Business Park; Lab will accelerate development of black silicon solar cells, tandem solar cells, and flexible solar cells

Natcore Technology Opens Solar Research Center in Kodak's Business Park; Lab will accelerate development of black silicon solar cells, tandem solar cells, and flexible solar cells

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Kodak's Eastman Business Park, Natcore Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has formally opened its Research and Development Center in Rochester, NY. The Center is located in Building 308 of the Park.

The ceremonial scissors were wielded by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, who was instrumental in attracting Natcore to Rochester; Mike Alt, Director of Eastman Business Park; and Chuck Provini, Natcore President/CEO. The event was also attended by area political leaders and by members of the Rochester business and professional investment communities.

The R&D Center will enable Natcore to accelerate its development of applications based on the company's proprietary liquid phase deposition (LPD) technology. At present, its most promising applications are flexible solar cells, which would halve the cost of producing solar energy; super-efficient tandem cells, which would double the power output of today's most efficient commercial solar cells; and black silicon solar cells, which would produce a significantly greater amount of energy (KwHrs) on a daily basis than will the industry's standard solar cells.

The Natcore facility houses a laboratory/clean room, a gowning room, administration offices and a warehouse. The Class ISO 7 clean room uses positive air pressure and a series of filters to eliminate 90% of environmental pollutants (e.g., dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors) from outside air. Employees enter and leave through airlocks, and wear protective clothing such as caps, facemasks, gloves, booties and coveralls.

But the centerpiece is AR-Box(TM), Natcore's intelligent LPD processing station for growing an antireflective (AR) coating on silicon wafers in the process of manufacturing solar cells. It will be the primary tool in the development and commercialization of Natcore's new technologies. This SUV-sized device is a research version of the AR-Box production model, which will be fully automated and substantially larger.

Natcore's R&D Center will be staffed initially by 10-12 people. Two former Kodak employees - chemical engineering technicians Richard Topel, Jr. and Ted Zubil - have already begun working there, and two senior scientists are moving from Natcore's Ohio State facility. Dr. Dennis Flood, Natcore's Chief Technology Officer, will continue to interview chemists and chemical engineers, electrical engineers, materials scientists, and technicians to fill the remaining jobs.

The facility was built and equipped at a cost of nearly $1 million.

Natcore had been conducting its research at Ohio State and Rice Universities. That work will now be consolidated in Rochester, although Natcore will continue its funded joint research program with the Barron Group at Rice. New applications generated at Rice will be moved to Rochester for development and commercialization. The Columbus facility will be closed.

"We're still looking for a site and partners to develop and manufacture flexible solar cells and other applications," says Provini. "Eastman Business Park is being considered, as are overseas locations. Manufacturers from China, India and Italy sent delegations to visit us in February. Like Kodak, they all have extensive experience in manufacturing roll-to-roll photo film. The final decision in this case will rest on the availability of funding."

Statements herein 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.