Natcore Technology and MX Holding have signed a Letter of Intent to work out a partnership that will perform research and development work on three important areas, which will assist in improving the efficiency of solar energy generation while cutting down the costs. The terms of the accord are yet to be decided formally.
Natcore Liquid Phase Deposition Technology. Credit: Natcore
The research and development work will be performed utilizing the liquid phase deposition (LPD) technology developed by Natcore along with the work performed by Dr. Daniele Margadona, a reputed solar scholar from Europe and Chief Technology Officer at MX Group. The LPD process developed by Natcore is eco-friendly and cost-effective than the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) procedure typically used in the industry.
Initially, the partnership will concentrate on the three important areas such as Epitaxial growth, a new know-how utilized in the manufacture of wafers with recyclable silicon substrates. Back side passivation is a procedure of filling the suspended type of atomic bonds on the backside of the solar cells and bringing down the number of flaws that will be normally present over the top side of the cell body. This procedure is important for the purpose of manufacturing high-performing and long-lasting solar cells and finally the selective emitter concept, a procedure of placing front contacts over a solar cell, which can improve the efficiency of a solar cell by around 2%. The new R&D partnership will not have any impact over the existing technological developments of Natcore or on its efforts.
As a part of the partnership both Natcore and MX Holding are planning to join mutually with third-party investors to own a solar cell producing facility to manufacture and sell efficient solar cells that are based on the technologies formulated by the joint research and development of both the companies.