Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology (한국결정성장학회지)

The Korea Association of Crystal Growth (한국결정성장학회)
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The current status in the silicon crystal growth technology for solar cells

태양전지용 규소 결정 성장 기술 개발의 현황

  • Lee, A-Young (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Incheon National University) ;
  • Lee, Dong-Gue (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Incheon National University) ;
  • Kim, Young-Kwan (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Incheon National University)
  • 이아영 (인천대학교 신소재공학과) ;
  • 이동규 (인천대학교 신소재공학과) ;
  • 김영관 (인천대학교 신소재공학과)
  • Received : 2014.01.17
  • Accepted : 2014.04.14
  • Published : 2014.04.30
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Abstract

Three kinds of crystalline silicon have been used for the solar cell grade. First of all, single crystalline silicon is the main subject to enhance the production yield. Most of the efforts are focused on the control of the melt-crystal interface shape affected by the crystal-crucible rotation rate. The main subject in the multi-crystalline silicon ingot is the contamination control. Faster Ar gas flow above the melt surface will lower the carbon contamination in the crystal. And also, twin boundary electrically inactive is found to be more effective than grain boundary for the improvement of the MCLT. In the case of mono-like silicon material, propagation of the multi-crystalline silicon growing from the inner side crucible is the problem lowering the portion of the single crystalline part at the center of the ingot. Crystal growing apparatus giving higher cooling rate at the bottom and lower cooling rate at the side crucible was suggested as the optimum solution obtaining higher quality of the mono-like silicon ingot. Proper application of the seeds at the bottom of the crucible would be one of the solutions.

태양전지용 규소에는 단결정, 다결정, mono-like의 세 가지 재료가 사용 중에 있다. 첫 번째로, 단결정은 수율향상의 과제에 집중되고 있으며, 이것은 고액 계면의 형상이 주요 요인으로 알려지고 있다. 이에 대한 연구가 전산모사 등으로 집중되고 있다. 또한 결정과 도가니의 회전 속도가 고액 계면의 형상에 영향을 미치는 것이 확인 되었다. 다결정의 경우에는 결정립계의 역할이 매우 중요하므로 이에 대한 연구가 진행되는데, 이들을 특히 전기적으로 비활성적인 쌍정 입계로 전환하는 연구가 진행되고 있다. 성장 조건을 변경시켜 쌍정 입계로 바꾸어서 재료의 전기적 성질을 향상시키는 결과를 확인하였다. 또한 성장 공정에서 발생될 수 있는 오염을 줄이기 위한 노력은 상부의 Ar 가스의 흐름을 상향 조절하여 불순물의 용입을 줄임이 확인되었다. 다음으로 mono-like인 경우에는 측면으로부터 성장 되어 들어오는 다결정이 단결정의 분율을 저하 시키는 주요 요인이 되고 있다. 이에 대한 해결책으로 하부의 냉각 속도를 높이고 상부와 측면에 단열재를 보강하는 방안이 제시되고 있고, 하부에 놓는 seed의 orientation을 조절하여 측면으로부터 성장 되어 들어오는 다결정을 억제하는 방안이 효과가 있음이 확인 되고 있다.

Keywords

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