NOVELTY - Producing a solar concentrator, comprises: depositing a reflective material on a convex surface of a substantially transparent optical element (220), where the optical element includes a flat surface disposed opposite to the convex surface, and the reflective material is deposited so that light passing through the flat surface is reflected by the reflective material disposed on the convex surface; depositing an insulative material on the reflective material; and thermal spraying a conductive material (210) onto the insulative material.    USE - The method is useful for producing a solar concentrator (claimed) which is useful for collection and concentration of solar radiation.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) a solar concentrator comprising: the substantially-transparent optical element; a first reflective material layer disposed on the convex surface of the optical element, where the first reflective material layer is deposited so that light passing through the flat surface is reflected by the first reflective material layer into the optical element; an insulative material layer disposed on the first reflective material layer; and a thermal-sprayed conductive material layer disposed on the insulative material layer; and    (2) a solar concentrator comprising: the substantially-transparent optical element including a flat surface, a convex surface disposed opposite to the flat surface, and a concave surface defined in the flat surface; the first reflective material layer disposed on the convex surface of the optical element; a second reflective material layer disposed on the concave surface of the optical element; an insulative material layer disposed on the first reflective material layer; a thermal-sprayed conductive material layer disposed on the insulative material layer; and a solar cell (300) mounted onto the optical element and disposed in a central region of the convex surface of the optical element so that the solar cell is electrically coupled to the conductive material layer, where the first and second reflective material layers are deposited and arranged by the convex and concave surfaces so that light passing through the flat surface is reflected by the first reflective material layer towards the second reflective material layer, and is re-reflected by the second reflective material layer onto the solar cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a perspective view of a portion of an optical element and a solar cell coupled to it.    Apparatus (200)    Conductive material (210)    Optical element (220)    Solar cell (300)    Solder bumps (305)