Method for producing disc or band-shaped SI crystals with columnar structure for solar cells
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorJosef Grabmaier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Si-crystals with columnar structures are produced by contacting a silicon melt with a melt-resistant carrier body having periodically spaced crystallization-seed centers on a surface thereof facing the melt, establishing a controlled temperature gradient at the interface between the carrier body surface and the melt so that crystallization of the melt onto the seed centers occurs and then removing the body with the adhering crystal layer from the melt. In a preferred embodiment, an elongated traveling web having a select hole pattern therein functioning as the seed centers, is utilized as a carrier body.
Claims11
A method of producing disc or band-shaped silicon crystals having a columnar structure, useful for manufacture of solar cells, comprising:
- contacting a surface of molten silicon with a silicon melt-resistant reticular carrier body having substantially uniform mesh openings substantially matched to the columnar structure on a surface thereof so that such surface is in direct contact with the molten silicon;
- establishing a controlled temperature gradient at the interface between said reticular carrier body and said molten silicon so that crystallization of silicon occurs in said mesh openings;
- and
- removing said carrier body from said molten silicon surface with an adherent silicon layer on said carrier body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.