Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-fv566 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T18:45:08.353Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Analysis and Control of the Performance-Limiting Defects in HEM-Grown Silicon for Solar Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Chandra P. Khattak
Affiliation:
Crystal Systems, Inc., 27 Congress Street, Salem, MA 01970–5597
Frederick Schmid
Affiliation:
Crystal Systems, Inc., 27 Congress Street, Salem, MA 01970–5597
Michael Cudzinovic
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401–3393
Martha Symko
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401–3393
Bhushan L. Sopori
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401–3393
Get access

Abstract

Multicrystalline silicon ingots of 55 cm × 55 cm cross section, 100 kg have been grown by the Heat Exchanger Method (HEM). Controlled growth features have been used to produce large grain size, vertically oriented grain boundaries, large areas of twins with low defect density and rejection of impurities to the top of the ingot. Ambient control has reduced C, N, and O concentration and minimized precipitates with no detectable metallic impurities. High performance solar cells have ben fabricated, and further improvements can be achieved by minimizing dislocation tangles and impurities in localized regions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Khattak, C. P. and Schmid, F., In: Proc. 13th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conf., Washington, D.C., 1978 (IEEE, New York) p. 137.Google Scholar
[2] Regnault, W. F. and Yoo, K. C., In: Proc. 17th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conf., Kissimee, FL, 1984 (IEEE, New York) p. 286.Google Scholar
[3] Fally, J. and Guenel, C., In: Proc. 3rd E. C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conf., Cannes, France, 1980 (Reidel, Dordrecht) p. 598.Google Scholar
[4] Helmreich, D., In: Silicon Processing for Photovoltaics II, eds. Khattak, C. P. and Ravi, K. V., 1987 (North-Holland, Amsterdam) p. 97.Google Scholar
[5] Dorrity, I. A., Garrard, B. J. and Hukin, D. A., In: Proc. 10th E. C Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conf., Lisbon, Portugal, 1991 (Kluwier, Dordrecht) p. 317.Google Scholar
[6] Koch, W., Krumbe, W. and Schwirtlich, I. A., Proc. 11th Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conf, Montreaux, Switzerland, 1992 (Harwood Academic Publ.) p. 518.Google Scholar
[7] Khattak, C. P., Schmid, F. and Schubert, W. K., Proc. 1st World Conf. on Photovoltaic Energy Conv., Waikoloa, HI, 1994 (in press).Google Scholar
[8] Schmid, F. and Viechnicki, D., J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 53, 528 (1970).Google Scholar
[9] Schmid, F. and Khattak, C. P., Laser Focus 19 (9) 147 (1983).Google Scholar
[10] Schmid, F., Khattak, C. P. and Felt, D. M., Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull. 73 (2) 39 (1994).Google Scholar
[11] Schmid, F. and Khattak, C. P., Optical Spectra 15 (5) 65 (1981).Google Scholar
[12] Dumas, K. A., Khattak, C. P. and Schmid, F., Proc. 15th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conf, Orlando, FL 1981 (IEEE, New York) p. 954.Google Scholar
[13] Khattak, C. P., Schmid, F., Cunningham, D. W. and Summers, J. G., Proc. 22nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conf, Las Vegas, NV, 1991 (IEEE, New York) p. 976.Google Scholar
[14] Khattak, C. P., Schmid, F., Schubert, W. K., Cudzinovic, M. and Sopori, B. L., Proc. 23rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conf., 1993 (IEEE, New York) p. 73.Google Scholar
[15] Sopori, B. L., Murphy, R. and Marshall, C., Proc. 23rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conf., 1993 (IEEE, New York) p. 190.Google Scholar
[16] King, D. L., Schubert, W. K. and Hund, T. D., Proc. 1st World Conf. on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Waikoloa, HI, 1994 (in press).Google Scholar
[17] Schubert, W. K., Ruby, D. S., Basore, P. A., Gee, J. M., buck, M. E. and Tardy, H. L., Proc. 1st World Conf. on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Waikoloa, HI, 1994 (in press).Google Scholar