Memorias de investigación
Communications at congresses:
Progress on the development of a technology for silicon purification
Year:2012
Research Areas
  • Electric engineers, electronic and automatic (eil),
  • Materials for electric engineering and electronics,
  • Solar cells,
  • Technology of devices for engineering
Information
Abstract
The polysilicon market is experiencing tremendous changes due to the strong demand from Photovoltaics (PV), which has by far surpassed the demand from Microelectronics. The need of solar silicon has induced a large increase in capacity, which has now given a scenario of oversupply, reducing the polysilicon price to levels that put a strong pressure on the cost structure of the producers. The paper reports on the R&D efforts carried out in the field of solar silicon purification via the chlorosilane route by a private-public consortium that is building a pilot plant of 50-100 tonnes/year, that will synthesize trichlorosilane, purify it and deposit ultrapure silicon in an industrial-size Siemens type reactor. It has also capabilities for ingot growth and material characterization. A couple of examples of the progress so far are given, the first one related to the recycling scheme of chlorinated compounds, and the second to the minimization of radiation losses in the CVD deposition process, which account for a relevant part of the total energy consumption. In summary, the paper gives details on the technology being developed in our pilot plant, which offers a unique platform for field-testing of innovative approaches that can lead to a cost reduction of solar silicon produced via the chlorosilane route.
International
Si
Congress
6th International Workshop on Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
960
Place
Aix les Bains, Francia
Reviewers
Si
ISBN/ISSN
000-0000-000-000
Start Date
08/10/2012
End Date
11/10/2012
From page
1
To page
4
Proc. CSSC6
Participants
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