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Optimization of gettering processes of metallurgical-grade silicon for solar cell applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Inna M. Iskandarova
Affiliation:
inna@kintech.ru, Kintech Lab Ltd, Moscow, Russian Federation
Igor P. Zvyagin
Affiliation:
zvyagin@kintech.ru, Kintech Lab Ltd, Moscow, Russian Federation
Andrey Knizhnik
Affiliation:
knizhnik@kintech.ru, Kintech Lab Ltd, Kurchatov Sq 1, Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation, +7 499 196 9992
Andrey V. Konovalov
Affiliation:
aaq@kintech.ru, Kintech Lab Ltd, Moscow, Russian Federation
Boris Potapkin
Affiliation:
potapkin@kintech.ru, Russian Federation
Natalya Arutyunyan
Affiliation:
naarutyunyan@rambler.ru, Kintech Lab Ltd, Moscow, Russian Federation
Alexander I. Zaitsev
Affiliation:
aizaitsev@mtu-net.ru, Kintech Lab Ltd, Moscow, Russian Federation
Thomas McNulty
Affiliation:
mcnulty@crd.ge.com, GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York, United States
Timothy Sommerer
Affiliation:
Timothy.Sommerer@crd.ge.com, GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York, United States
Mohamed Rahmane
Affiliation:
Rahmane@crd.ge.com, GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York, United States
Victor Lou
Affiliation:
louvl@crd.ge.com, GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York, United States
Stanislav Soloviev
Affiliation:
soloviev@research.ge.com, GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York, United States
Alexei Vert
Affiliation:
vertiatc@research.ge.com, GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York, United States
Svetlana Selezneva
Affiliation:
seleznev@crd.ge.com, GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York, United States
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Abstract

Conversion efficiency of a solar energy in the electric is substantially determined not only by the total impurity concentration in solar cell element, but also by impurity chemical and physical state. Gettering processes, which are included in the technology of solar cell manufacturing, are usually used for such impurity redistribution. In order to optimize gettering processes we developed a program tool based on the fundamental physical and chemical laws. The description of physical and chemical behaviour of impurities in silicon is based both on known experimental data, and on calculations of necessary parameters by means of present-day thermodynamic and quantum-chemical methods. Developed tool helps to choose a gettering regime (a temperature profile, time, getter layer thickness) for optimization of these processes for the given initial chemical composition of the silicon wafer. Possibility of analysis of recombination activity of various types of defects in silicon on the basis of carrier lifetime criterion allows to obtain an estimation of efficiency of the gettering processes. Using this program tool we demonstrated that solar cell efficiency can be significantly increased by optimal choice of gettering conditions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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