Memorias de investigación
Research Publications in journals:
Engineering metal precipitate size distributions to enhance gettering in multicrystalline silicon
Year:2012
Research Areas
  • Electric engineers, electronic and automatic (eil),
  • Electronic devices,
  • Materials for electric engineering and electronics,
  • Technology of devices for engineering
Information
Abstract
The extraction of metal impurities during phosphorus diffusion gettering (PDG) is one of the crucial process steps when fabricating high-efficiency solar cells using low-cost, lower-purity silicon wafers. In this work, we show that for a given metal concentration, the size and density of metal silicide precipitates strongly influences the gettering efficacy. Different precipitate size distributions can be already found in silicon wafers grown by different techniques. In our experiment, however, the as-grown distribution of precipitated metals in multicrystalline Si sister wafers is engineered through different annealing treatments in order to control for the concentration and distribution of other defects. A high density of small precipitates is formed during a homogenization step, and a lower density of larger precipitates is formed during extended annealing at 740 degrees C. After PDG, homogenized samples show a decreased interstitial iron concentration compared to as-grown and ripened samples, in agreement with simulations.
International
Si
JCR
Si
Title
Physica Status Solidi a-Applications And Materials Science
ISBN
1862-6300
Impact factor JCR
1,463
Impact info
Volume
209
10.1002/pssa.201200360
Journal number
10
From page
1861
To page
1865
Month
SIN MES
Ranking
Participants
  • Autor: J. Hofstetter
  • Autor: D.P. Fenning
  • Autor: J.F. Lelievre
  • Autor: Carlos del Cañizo Nadal UPM
  • Autor: T. Buonassisi
Research Group, Departaments and Institutes related
  • Creador: Grupo de Investigación: Silicio y Nuevos Conceptos para Células Solares
  • Centro o Instituto I+D+i: Instituto de Energía Solar
  • Departamento: Electrónica Física