Multicrystalline silicon production for solar cell applications by continuous induction melting in cold crucible

Abstract

Our progress in further development of “Induction Melting in Cold Crucible” (IMCC) method for continuous growth of mc‐Si for PV applications is reported and characteristics of material production by this method are presented. The productivity of our IMCC equipment is more than three times higher than the productivity of standard equipment for Directional Solidification (DS) in quartz crucible, the process is continuous and eliminates the need to consume expensive quartz crucibles. The properties of IMCC mc‐Si were investigated by Light Beam Induced Current (LBIC), Time of Flight Second Ion Mass Spectroscopy (TOF‐SIMS) measurements etc. The results obtained are compared with the properties of standard MC‐Si produced by DS in quartz crucibles. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)