Improved high-purity arc-furnace silicon for solar cells

Single-crystal silicon solar cells having efficiencies within 1% of those prepared in semiconductor-grade silicon have been fabricated in twice-recrystallized, high purity metallurgical silicon. Produced in a 100 kW experimental arc furnace by carbothermic reduction of pure silica with pelletized ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Electrochemical Society 1985-01, Vol.132 (2), p.339-345
Main Authors: AMICK, J. A, DISMUKES, J. P, FRANCIS, R. W, HUNT, L. P, RAVISHANKAR, P. S, SCHNEIDER, M, MATTHEI, K, SYLVAIN, R, LARSEN, K, SCHEI, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Energy
energy conservation
Exact sciences and technology
metallurgy
Natural energy
semiconductors
silicon
solar collectors
Solar energy
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Summary:Single-crystal silicon solar cells having efficiencies within 1% of those prepared in semiconductor-grade silicon have been fabricated in twice-recrystallized, high purity metallurgical silicon. Produced in a 100 kW experimental arc furnace by carbothermic reduction of pure silica with pelletized carbon black, the best "solar-grade" silicon contained 50-100 ppmw Al, 50-100 ppmw Fe, 10 ppmw Ti, 1.8 ppma B, and 2.1 ppma P. Following two Czochralski (Cz) recrystallizations, the metal impurity levels in the final ingot were indistinguishable from those in once Cz-recrystallized semiconductor-grade silicon, while the boron and phosphorus contents were 1.5 ppma and 0.6 ppma, respectively.
ISSN:0013-4651
1945-7111
DOI:10.1149/1.2113834