Method for producing a silicon ingot by solidification of a melt comprising a nucleation agent including nanoscale particles

A method for producing a silicon ingot comprising the following steps:

• providing a container to receive a silicon melt;
• providing a temperature control device to control the temperature of the silicon melt in the container;
• arranging raw material in the container, said raw material comprising silicon and at least one nucleation agent to assist a heterogeneous nucleation in the silicon melt;
• and
• controlling the temperature in the container such that the raw material is present, during a specific method portion, as silicon melt in the container, which is solidified in a directed manner during a subsequent method portion, wherein the nucleation agent comprises nanoscale particles, said nanoscale particles being formed by melt synthesis, wherein the nucleation agent is completely dissolved in the silicon melt during a method portion.

A method for producing a silicon ingot comprising the following steps:

• providing a container comprising a container interior space;
• providing a temperature control device;
• providing silicon in the container interior space;
• adding at least one nucleation agent to the silicon in the container interior space;
• and
• controlling the temperature in the container such that the silicon is present, during a specific method portion, as silicon melt in the container, which is solidified in a directed manner during a subsequent method portion, said nucleation agent providing a heterogeneous nucleation in the silicon melt, said nucleation agent comprising nanoscale particles, said nanoscale particles being formed by melt synthesis, wherein the nucleation agent is completely dissolved in the silicon melt during the specific method portion.