Abstract
The generation of low-cost electrical power with the aid of silicon solar cells necessitates among others a substantial cost reduction of the silicon basic material required. A decisive step towards this aim is a recently developed method for crystallizing silicon which makes it possible to abandon the conventional ways of growing single-crystals. Some variations of this new process, which mainly consists in directed freezing of a silicon melt (casting in blocks and subsequent cutting, or casting in plates), is described in this paper.
The structure of the material is described as well as some properties, characteristical to its application in solar cell production, i. e. the columnar structure of large polycrystalline silicon slices, exhibiting monocrystalline arrangements of different orientations between the surfaces.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Literature
Deutsche Offenlegungsschrift 2508803, „Neuartige Siliciumkristalle und Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung” Wacker-Chemitronic Gesellschaft für Elektronik-Grundstoffe mbH, Erfinder: Authier Bernhard (“New silicon crystals and their manufacturing process”).
W. R. Runyan, “Silicon semiconductor Technology”.
H. H. Kocher and A. Mühlbauer, „Über das Verhalten einiger Tiegelmaterialien beim Schmelzen von Halbleiter-Silicium”. Elektrowärme, Band 25, Nr. 2, Feb. 67 (“The behaviour of some melting pot materials when melting semiconductor-grade silicon”).
Deutsche Offenlegungsschrift 2009459. „Verfahren zur Herstellung von Siliciumformkörpern körpern”. Consortium für elektrochemische Industrie GmbH, München, Erfinder: Daxer H., Dietz W., Dipl.phys., Vögerl F., Hermann H. Dr. (“Procedure for the fabrication of silicon blocks”).
W. Hooper, H. J. Queisser, Bull. Am. Phys. Sol. 7, 211, 1962.
S. I. Soclof and P. A. Iles, “Grain Boundary and Impurity Effects in Low-Cost Silicon Solar Cells”. Conf. Rec. 11th Photovoltaic Spec. Conf. May 6–8, 1975 Scottsdale, Arizona.
H. J. Hovel, “Solar Cells”. Semiconductors and Semimetals, Vol. XI (1975).
H. Fischer, W. Pschunder, Low Cost Solar Cells Based on Large. Area Unconventional Silicon. Conf. Rec. 12th PVSC, November 15–18 (1976) Baton Rouge, LA.
W. Pschunder, H. Bebermeier, „Experimentalstudie zur Verbesserung der Technologie und der elektrischen Leistung von Silicium-Solarzellen”. Unveröffentlichter Schlußbericht R.V. 11-V 70/74 (59)-TO-BB 74 (gefördert vom BMFT). (“Experimental study to improve the technology and the electrical efficiency of silicon solar-cells”—unpublished final report—sponsored by Federal Ministry of Research and Technology).
T. L. Chu et al., “Silicon Solar Cells on Undirectionally Recrystallized Metallurgical Silicon”. Special Issue of Photovoltaic Devices. IEEE Trans. E1. Dev. ED-24, 4 (1977).
P. H. Fang, “Research on Low-Cost solar Cell Structure for Large Electrical Power Systems”. Annual Rep. NSF/RANN/SE/G/-34975/PR 72/4.
B. A. Authier, „Neue Siliciumkristalle für Solarzellen”. Abschlußbericht zum Forschungsvorhaben des BMFT im Auftrag der Deutschen Forschungs-und Versuchsanstalt für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. RV 11-V 70/74-TO-BB 74 (unveröffentlicht). (New silicon crystals for solar cells-final report for the research program sponsored by Federal Ministry of Research and Technology on behalf of the German Research and Testing Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, not yet published).
H. Fischer, “Silicon solar cells from polycrystalline material”. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Luxembourg, Sept. 27–30, 1977.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1978 Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Authier, B. (1978). Poly-crystalline silicon with columnar structure. In: Treusch, J. (eds) Festkörperprobleme 18. Advances in Solid State Physics, vol 18. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0107774
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0107774
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-528-08024-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-75362-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive