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http://dx.doi.org/10.4191/KCERS.2010.47.6.618

Purification of Metallurgical Grade Silicon by Plasma Torch and E-beam Treatment  

Eum, Jung-Hyun (Icheon Branch, KICET)
Nahm, Sahn (Division of Material Science and Engineering, Korea University)
Hwang, Kwang-Taek (Icheon Branch, KICET)
Kim, Kyung-Ja (Icheon Branch, KICET)
Choi, Kyoon (Icheon Branch, KICET)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society / v.47, no.6, 2010 , pp. 618-622 More about this Journal
Abstract
Cost-effective purification methods of silicon were carried out in order to replace the conventional Siemens method for solar grade silicon. Firstly, acid leaching which is a hydrometallurgical process was preceded with grinded silicon powders of metallurgical grade (~99% purity) to remove metallic impurities. Then, plasma treatments were performed with the leached silicon powders of 99.94% purity by argon plasma at 30 kW power under atmospheric pressure. Plasma treatment was specifically efficient for removing Zr, Y, and P but not for Al and B. Another purification step by EB treatment was also studied for the 99.92% silicon lump which resulted in the fast removal of boron and aluminum. That means the two methods are effective alternative tools for removing the doping elements like boron and phosphor.
Keywords
Solar grade silicon; Metallurgical grade silicon; Purification; Plasma treatment; Electron-beam treatment;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
Times Cited By SCOPUS : 1
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