Natcore Technology has received a patent no 7,999,176 B2 from the US Patent Office for a solar cell structure that uses carbon nanotubes to improve cell performance.
The patent, and the three earlier foundational patents on which it is based, cover a liquid phase deposition process for growing inorganic films on silicon.
One of these earlier patents is awarded for Natcore’s business in the photovoltaic area.
Natcore plans to continue development work on thin-film solar cells at its Research and Development Center located in Rochester, New York.
At the Rochester center, the company will have access to roll-to-roll manufacturing machinery formerly used to produce Eastman Kodak’s photo film.
The patent was assigned to Vanguard Solar, which was acquired by Natcore in March 2010.