IP Library Granted Patent US 9,109,302
Granted Patent B2
US 9,109,302 · App. 13/154,914 · Granted Aug 18, 2015

Method for producing silicon wafers, and silicon solar cell

Inventors: Andreas Krause (Radebeul, DE); Juliane Walter (Halsbrücke / Niderschöna, DE); Marc Dietrich (Broβschirma, DE); Josef Stenzenberger (Freiberg, DE)
Assignee: SolarWorld Innovations GmbH
C30B29/06C30B11/14H01L31/182Y02E10/546
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,109,302
App. No.
13/154,914
Granted
Aug 18, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

In order to produce silicon wafers, liquid ultra-pure silicon is solidified on a silicon monocrystalline seed arranged in the bottom area of a crucible and having a seed surface comprising a {110}-crystal orientation and an edge surface having a {100}-crystal orientation starting from the bottom of the crucible, thus forming a silicon block on the seed surface of the silicon monocrystalline seed which largely takes over the {110}-crystal orientation. Subsequently, the silicon block is divided into wafers with a wafer surface having a {100}-crystal orientation.

Claims (17)

1. A method for producing silicon wafers, comprising the steps of:

providing a silicon monocrystalline seed in the bottom area of a crucible, the silicon monocrystalline seed having a seed surface with a <110>-crystal orientation, the <110>-crystal orientation being perpendicular to the bottom area of the crucible, and an edge surface with a <100>-crystal orientation, the <100>-crystal orientation being perpendicular to a side face of the crucible;

surface-melting silicon and providing it in the crucible;

solidifying the liquid silicon starting from the bottom area of the crucible on the seed surface of the silicon monocrystalline seed to form a silicon block, whereby the silicon block takes over the <110>-crystal orientation and as a structure which is more than 70% monocrystalline; and

dividing the silicon block into wafers in such a way that a main wafer surface comprises a <100>-crystal orientation, the main wafer surface being delimited by four wafer edges, wherein two respectively opposite wafer edges of the four wafer edges run parallel to the [110]-crystal direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silicon monocrystalline seed is produced from a monocrystalline silicon ingot, the ingot axis having a [100]-spatial orientation, whereby the monocrystalline silicon ingot for forming the seed surface of the silicon monocrystalline seed having the <110>-crystal orientation and the edge surface of the silicon monocrystalline seed having the <100>-crystal orientation is cut open.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silicon monocrystalline seed consists of several parts covering the bottom area of the crucible with the same crystal orientation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein prior to cutting into wafers the silicon block is divided into rectangular silicon ingots in such a way that an ingot axis runs in parallel to the seed surface of the silicon monocrystalline seed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wafer surface having the <100>-crystal orientation is subjected to texture etching by means of an alkaline etching solution.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the silicon monocrystalline seed consists of several parts covering the bottom area of the crucible with the same crystal orientation.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein prior to cutting into wafers the silicon block is divided into rectangular silicon ingots in such a way that the ingot axis runs in parallel to the seed surface of the silicon monocrystalline seed.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein prior to cutting into wafers the silicon block is divided into rectangular silicon ingots in such a way that an ingot axis runs in parallel to the seed surface of the silicon monocrystalline seed.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the wafer surface having the <100>-crystal orientation is subjected to texture etching by means of an alkaline etching solution.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wafer surface having the <100>-crystal orientation is subjected to texture etching by means of an alkaline etching solution.

11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the wafer surface having the <100>-crystal orientation is subjected to texture etching by means of an alkaline etching solution.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the edge face with the <100>-crystal orientation is perpendicular to a bottom surface of the crucible, wherein the bottom surface is perpendicular to the side face of the crucible.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seed surface with the <110>-crystal orientation is parallel with a bottom surface of the crucible, wherein the bottom surface is perpendicular to the side face of the crucible.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2018
From: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
To: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 044819/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2011
From: KRAUSE, ANDREAS, DR.; WALTER, JULIANE; DIETRICH, MARC; STENZENBERGER, JOSEF
To: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 026801/0522 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2010 029 741 · Jun 7, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110297223A1 · Dec 8, 2011