Crystal Growth of Silicon Single Crystals for Solar Cells by the Infra-red Convergent Heating Method

Satoshi Watauchi

Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi

Abstract

The efficiency of single crystal silicon solar cells is typically higher than cells based on poly or amorphous silicon. Their manufacturing cost, however, is also higher. n-type silicon single crystals are used as substrates for one type of silicon solar cell with good performance. The target of this study is to reduce the manufacturing cost of n-type silicon single crystals by using a modified tilting mirror type infra-red convergent heating floating zone growth method. The work focuses on improving the diameter control and homogeneity of n-type silicon crystals in order to achieve cost reduction.