• Resources Recycling
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2009

In this study, binderless consolidation processes of ultra foe Si powder, by-products of making high purity poly-Si in the current method, were systematically investigated for use as economical solar-grade feedstock. The average diameter of the silicon powder was $7.8{\mu}m$. The main contaminants of the fine silicon powder were $SiO_2$ type oxide and humidity. The chemical pretreatment using the HF solution was observed to be effective for the improvement of the compactability of the silicon powder and the density ratio and the strength of the silicon powder compacts. The yield of the binder-free consolidation process increased by 20% under a vacuum condition. In as-received state, the silicon powder were not pure enough to be used as solar grade feed-stock material. After the dry chemical treatments, a sufficiently high purity above solar-grade was able to be achieved.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.126-129
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• 2009

In this study, it was aimed to develop the re-use technology of ultra-fine silicon powders, by-products during the current production process of high purity poly-Si feedstock. For this goal, the compacts of the silicon powders were tried to fabricate by CIP (Cold Isostatic Pressing) method using silicon rubber mold without chemical binder materials. The density ratio of the silicon powder compacts reached 74%. In order to simulate the actual handling and charging conditions of feedstock material in casting process, a shaking test was carried out and mass loss measured. Finally, the silicon powder compacts were melted using a cold crucible induction melting method and the purity assessment was conducted by Hall effect measurement.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.261-264
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• 2007

In this study, the consolidation and casting processes of fine Si powders, by-products of making high purity Poly-Si rods in the current method, were systematically investigated for use as economical solar-grade feedstock. Morphology, size, and contamination type of the poly-Si fine powders were inspected by combined analysis of SEM, particle size analyzer, and FT-IR. Poly-Si powder compacts were tried to fabricate by a consolidation process without a binding agent and then their density ratio and strength were evaluated. Finally, the electrical resistivity of the specimens prepared by an electromagnetic casting method was examined for purity assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.232-236
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• 2008

Recently the shortage of silicon resources especially for poly-silicon of purity higher than 99.9999% leads to search for the more cheap and quick synthesizing routes for silicon feedstock. In order to solve this situation, we investigated the purification process of metallurgical grade (MG) silicon of purity around 99% by the acid leaching and following the unidirectional solidification. MG-Si lumps are pulverized with a planetary mill, and then leached with HCl/$HNO_3$/HF acid solution. As a result, the concentration of metal impurities including Al, Fe, Ca, Mn, etc. decreased dramatically. This process led to silicon content higher than 99.99%. The purified silicon powders were compacted and have been melted and uni-directionally solidified with heat exchange method (HEM) furnace. The properties of multicrystalline silicon ingots were specific resistance of $0.3{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ and minority carrier life time (MCLT) of $3.8{\mu}{\cdot}sec$.