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Comparison of solar silicon feedstock

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Abstract

One of the major factors in reducing a cost of commercial solar cells is the lifetime of the photovoltaic material. In this work, a deterioration of Si generated by solvent metal gathering method (SMG) and Si removed from damaged solar cells is analyzed and compared with electronic grade Si. The differences in heating and cooling cycles on the DTA curves of different solar grade Si and Cu–Si mixtures are compared. A nonequilibrium exothermic reaction in Si generated by SMG method is recorded in samples aged in room atmosphere for 1 year. The outcomes of the cooling cycles after the DTA analyses for various solar grades Si were not significantly differentiated from the referred electronic grade Si indicating that recrystallization of aged Si diminishes the problem related to agglomeration of Cu and oxygen on the surface of Si solar grade particles. The DTA tests showed that recrystallized Si from the deteriorated solar cells can be recycled as feedstock materials for solar cells applications while Si generated by SMG method can be used for blending in order to achieve a long lifetime of Si solar cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies, University of Toronto, Bahen Centre for Information Technologies, Rm 8268, 40 St. George St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada

    Aleksandar M. Mitrašinović

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 184 College St, Mining Bldng, Room 208, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E4, Canada

    Aleksandar M. Mitrašinović

  3. Mechanical Engineering Technology, University of Houston, 304A Technology Building, Houston, TX, 77204-4020, USA

    Francisco C. Robles Hernández

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  1. Aleksandar M. Mitrašinović
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  2. Francisco C. Robles Hernández
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Correspondence to Aleksandar M. Mitrašinović.

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Mitrašinović, A.M., Robles Hernández, F.C. Comparison of solar silicon feedstock. J Therm Anal Calorim 115, 177–183 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-013-3245-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-013-3245-6

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