Scientists working in the Rochester R&D Center of Natcore Technology Inc. have produced an all-back-contact silicon "HIT-structure" (heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer) solar cell using their proprietary laser technology. "Silicon HIT-structure cells have been shown to yield record efficiencies of greater than 25%," says Dr. David Levy, Natcore's Director of Research and Technology. "Natcore's HIT-structure cells are made using thin amorphous silicon layers in combination with a standard crystalline silicon solar wafer.

This concept makes very efficient cells, as seen in the Sanyo/Panasonic HITTM cell." Natcore's scientists used a laser in applying contacts to the rear of the cell. In addition to further increasing cell efficiency relative to industry standards, the Natcore all-back-contact technique could allow production of these high efficiency cells at low cost. Panasonic recently reported an all-back-contact HIT-structure with 25.6% conversion efficiency.

That cell, however, was produced using a relatively complicated, higher-cost process. Natcore believes that it can achieve similar efficiencies at a much lower cost and without the environmental damage incurred through the chemicals and energy required for the high-temperature process. Because of their initial results, Natcore has moved to protect its new process by filing a provisional patent application titled with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.