Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Solidification of Silicon for Solar Cells

  • Technical Paper
  • Published:
Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Silicon is the dominating material in solar cells. Monocrystalline and multicrystalline cells have approximately equal market shares and are produced from wafers, cut from single crystals produced by Czochralski (CZ) pulling or from polycrystalline ingots made by directional solidification, respectively. The present paper reviews how demands for lower cost, better yield, higher efficiency and use of less pure silicon in solar cells are addressed by advanced solidification processing. In monocrystalline solar silicon, careful growth control results in less point defects, and better efficiency. Continuous- or semi-continuous CZ growth processes are being developed for better productivity and lower cost. In multicrystalline solar silicon, extended defects such as dislocations and grain boundaries decrease efficiency, particularly in combination with new, less expensive, but more contaminated silicon feedstock. This problem is addressed by control of nucleation and growth of ingots with larger grains, preferred grain orientation and lower dislocation density.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arnberg L, Di Sabatino M, and Øvrelid E, JOM 63 (2011) 38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Di Sabatino M, Juel M, Arnberg L, Syvertsen M, and Tranell G, Trans Indian Inst Met 62(4–5) (2009) 511.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Juel M, Ryningen B, Søndenå R, Syvertsen M, Syre M, Di Sabatino M, Stokkan G, and Arnberg L, in CSSC5, Boston, 1–4 Nov 2011.

  4. Kvande R, Arnberg L, Martin C, Rancoule G, Dupuy L, and Holt A, in 21st EUPVSEC, Dresden, Germany, Sep 2006.

  5. Kvande R, Arnberg L, and Martin C, J Cryst Growth 311 (2009) 765.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Modanese C, Di Sabatino M, Syvertsen M, and Arnberg L, J Cryst Growth 354(1) (2012) 27.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Coletti G, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. (Wiley Ltd.), 2012, Vol. Published online, doi:10.1002/pip.2195

  8. Voronkov V, J Cryst Growth 310 (2008) 1307.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hu Y, Juel M, Øvrelid E J, and Arnberg L, in 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany, 5–9 Sep 2011.

  10. Jomâa M, in 3rd International Workshop on Crystalline Solar Silicon Solar Cells, SINTEF/NTNU, Trondheim (2009).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science Engineering, Norwegian University of Science Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Lars Arnberg, Marisa Di Sabatino & Eivind Øvrelid

  2. SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Eivind Øvrelid

Authors
  1. Lars Arnberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marisa Di Sabatino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eivind Øvrelid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lars Arnberg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arnberg, L., Sabatino, M.D. & Øvrelid, E. Solidification of Silicon for Solar Cells. Trans Indian Inst Met 65, 509–513 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-012-0165-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-012-0165-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation