Natcore Technology has received a patent from the US Patent Office for a solar cell that utilizes carbon nanotubes to enhance its performance.
The patent no. 7,999,176 B2 was approved in April 2011 and issued on August 16, 2011. This new patent and its three previous foundational patents describe a liquid phase deposition (LPD) technique for the growth of inorganic films on silicon. One of these foundational patents is the core of Natcore's businesses, especially in the photovoltaic field.
This US patent award allows Natcore Technology to protect its intellectual property for its nanostructured solar cells in the largest and major markets of the world. The patent was originally allocated to Vanguard Solar. Through the acquisition of Vanguard Solar in March 2010, Natcore Technology became the sole owner of the patent as well as other intellectual property of Vanguard Solar.
Natcore Technology intends to carry on thin-film solar cell advancement at its Research and Development Center situated in Kodak's Eastman Business Park in Rochester, New York. The company will use the Center’s roll-to-roll production equipment that was previously utilized for the production of photo films of Eastman Kodak.
The President and Chief Executive Officer at Natcore Technology, Chuck Provini stated that this patent as well as the company’s all-quantum-dot tandem solar cell illustrates the company’s progression in the development of high-efficiency thin-film solar cells.
Source: http://www.natcoresolar.com