RED BANK, N.J., Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Natcore
Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has filed for patent
protection for key elements of its revolutionary new black silicon
production process.
The filing converts prior provisional applications into a full
patent filing, but also incorporates additional proprietary aspects
of the Company's process that were recently developed.
The new patent filing covers several advanced methods to perform
a high-quality black etch on silicon, including procedures to
properly handle substrates and stabilize the proprietary fluids
used in the process. Careful control of these aspects enables
achieving both the necessary consistency of the black silicon
etching process and the manufacturing speed needed for insertion
into a solar cell production line.
Importantly, a key feature of Natcore's process is the fact that
it is single-sided, even though it is performed in mild conditions
without the need for vacuum. Thus, only the front of the wafer is
black-etched, applying the antireflection properties exclusively
where they are needed. This is important for all advanced solar
cell structures now under development by manufacturers.
Companies are looking for ways to reflect not only light away
from the back surface of the cell but also minority carriers (i.e.,
electrons for standard-type cells). Reflecting the light back
into the cell will allow for more of it to be absorbed, and
reflecting the minority carrier electrons away from the back
contact enables more of them get to the upper metal contact.
Both effects improve the output of the cell.
Natcore's patent pending one-side processing greatly expands the
Company's market opportunities to include all single crystal and
multicrystal silicon cell manufacturers as they put their advanced
cell designs into manufacturing. That will include cells with
all back contacts, improved n-on-p cell structures and p-on-n cell
structures.
A front-surface-only black is also the ideal starting point for
the innovative laser-based production processes the Company is now
developing.
"Every day in our labs, our scientists and technicians are hard
at work optimizing our black silicon production process — making it
even faster and more uniform, and building prototype equipment to
demonstrate the best process," notes Chuck
Provini, Natcore's president and CEO. "We sometimes forget
ourselves how revolutionary our process is, and are now getting
very positive feedback from our research partners at major
universities and independent labs. It is clear that our
side-selective process is compatible with many high efficiency cell
structures, and establishes a solid foundation for future advances
in black silicon solar cells."
An Exciting Antibacterial Application
For Black Silicon
In addition to their work on black silicon and laser processing
in the Rochester labs, Natcore's scientists, in collaboration with
Prof. Andy Barron's research group
at Rice University, are now also
researching the application of black silicon as an antibacterial
surface.
As recently reported in the journal Nature
Communications, a group headed by microbiologist Elena Ivanova of Swinburne
University of Technology in Australia has discovered that black silicon
surfaces can act as effective biocides, with the sharp,
"nanopillar" structure proving to be highly lethal to certain human
pathogens.
The potential for a black silicon biocidal surface, if it can be
manufactured and transferred to other surfaces, is exceptional. For
example, the evolution of drug-resistant microbes is a growing
concern in medicine. But a surface that physically destroys
microbes by deforming or destroying their cell walls — as black
silicon is proving it can do — will completely sidestep the ability
of microbes to develop drug resistance.
While the effectiveness of black silicon as a biocide has been
indicated by this research, the ability to manufacture
appropriately-structured black silicon in quantity remains elusive.
Because this is precisely where Natcore excels, the Company's
scientists are now specifically targeting this application in
ongoing research.
The Company will promptly announce new advances in this area as
they are achieved and protected.
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.