Natcore Technologies Attempts to Make Solar Energy Economical

A recently concluded research performed by Natcore Technologies at Rice University under the guidance of Prof. Andrew Barron has effectively performed the first ever encapsulation of silicon quantum dots utilizing silicon dioxide coating.

Natcore performed the silicon dioxide coating utilizing the liquid phase deposition (LPD) procedure patented by Rice University and Natcore holds valid worldwide license for the process. The first ever achievement of encapsulation technique now enables Natcore to attempt construction of manifold layers of silicon QD in a methodical three dimensional arrays for more efficient absorption of light of even shorter wave length.

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The first of its kind technique of encapsulating solo silicon nanocrystals or quantum dots within silicon dioxide is critical for the introduction of efficient performing all silicon tandem solar cells.

Currently the tandem solar cells incorporated in space applications utilize expensive semi-conducting materials for upper layer coating. The cost of the material and overpriced processing techniques prevents the use of such materials in large scale solar panel productions. In contrast, Natcore's LPD technology eliminates the need for such materials and their steep processing, and promises to usher in a period of unprecedented growth in the application of solar cells for electrical power generation.

The stacked arrays when combined with a normal silicon solar cell appreciably increase the power production efficiency of normal solar cell up to 30% with low level of investment. The 30% increase in the solar power output almost doubles the output of the currently deployed silicon solar cells. The increased output is expected to reduce investment gap between the solar power generation and the normal power generation.

Brien Lundin, Chairman of Natcore said the invention indicates the involvement of Prof. Barron and his mates and the adaptability of the LPD process. He added that the current achievements could bring in a total transformation in the use of solar technology and many other related applications.