Ah, Teq hang in there.
Very good news today. That is what we want longer term. Being able to do quantum dots in layers in a liquid bath is way ahead of just about anybody else. They will slowly solve the problems one at a time. Actually they are doing it pretty fast if you look at the history of technology development in solar.
If they finally can put it all together, a solar cell built up in layers, get the selective emitter part of it right, be able to do it roll to roll, have it with an absolute black surface. And make it all far cheaper than any other method. And the cell does not have to track the sun, get rid of that incident angle problem.
Sort of wild that they hint at being able to solve the spacing part of it at this early stage. That is exactly how those lil dots get put on there and spaced out in relationship to each other. Best if you have a method that they want to do it themselves by some type of force within the process.
They don't mention it but if you get to that level, might be possible to do the cell on both sides.There have been attempts to do that before. In theory then you can use reflectors and do collection on both sides and the economics should be super. Lots of wild designs become possible.
The one biggy they haven't talked about is this idea of making a cell that has multiplying effect. One electron causes a number of others to get knocked out. But they are not as restricted in the technology as many other approaches by "Normal" companies where the technology changes at a snails pace. Just getting it to work in principal is the start. And it is a learning process as you go.
A big thing America has lost. They don't do that type development work in many companies so the skills aren't there in the population. Natcore is doing it right, totally hands on in house. Building the skills in the workforce as they go. The accident of invention is in play. And this is not some ivory tower lab, this is an industrial targeted research program at getting to manufactured product(s).
Playing around the way they do also might yield other advantages. In any method, you want the cells to come out with exactly the same spec characteristic. Will their methods give an advantage there? I could see that as being the case, chemistry might be superior in holding specs in the process. When you start to put the cells into panels in arrays or networks, that whole spec thing comes into play big time.
And what does these methods do to cell working life? Lots of areas if they are superior is a game maker. How easy is it to recycle or dispose of solar panels once their working life is over?
Many, many lil Holy Grails to be solved to finally get to the full potential of solar. If you can change the game, you probably can change how they are used. Design cells into cars, electric bikes, etc. Massive market in more third World countries that can not / won't play the subsidy game.
And keep in mind the number of very large companies that have walked away from solar. GE always comes to mind. They understand the technology is just not there to support the business plan many would like to have.
Actually at some point I would expect to start to see some type of goverment money flow Natcore's way in some form. They are trying to re-invent the wheel.
And I think this idea that they are going in too many directions all at once might be because you do have to look at many approaches. Always a number of blind alleys in any great technology change.
So we go with the flow, in the end I do expect surprises in all sorts of areas. GE ain't going to not be a player if the technology will support what they wanted to do a while back. Same with a lot of the big boys. Plus it is also not true the present day solar industry doesn't have its own problems. The products coming out the doors of many companies are not without their numerous flaws.
I do not expect the first users to be present manufacturers. Natcore might even become it's own captive producer to a big company for a while. The future can not be predicted. But Chuck does want to seem to avoid China for good reason.
Hard to put a time line to Natcore's game plan. But I think we are finally getting closer to some exciting times. They haven't blown the stock issue way out of sight, there is real progress.
I chased one Tech company for over ten years. Finally made some money, very rough road along the way. Natcore is doing well, always risk but the potential is also massive as well as future payout. Pays you money, takes you chances.
Reminds me of that one statement in a book, think it was "Future Shock" where it was stated as changes happen they come quicker, but the level of change is smaller in scope, with smaller intervals between change until the change is continuous. I can see some of that type concept now happening here. We are still in the "Big Thinking" type phase to figure out what change needs to be done. But once an approach is decided on, look for the changes to come much quicker between developments. They will have their own experience to fall back on. Might also be fun to go to work for a lot of them.
