skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing monocrystalline cast silicon and monocrystalline cast silicon bodies for photovoltaics

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1117701

Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With such methods and apparatuses, a cast body of monocrystalline silicon may be formed that is free of, or substantially free of, radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 35 cm is provided.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-98GO10337
Assignee:
AMG IdealCast Solar Corporation (Wayne, PA)
Patent Number(s):
8,628,614
Application Number:
13/276,700
OSTI ID:
1117701
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Oct 19
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (84)

Big-end-down ingot mold for casting metal patent June 1977
Method and apparatus for forming an elongated silicon crystalline body using a <110>{211}orientated seed crystal patent February 1978
Die closing unit with oversize injection molding die patent June 1978
Method of casting silicon patent July 1978
Process and apparatus for the semicontinuous production of silicon moldings patent November 1979
Novel silicon crystals and process for their preparation patent May 1983
Die casting machine patent May 1989
Float zone processing of particulate silicon patent April 1992
Method of producing crystal bodies having controlled crystalline orientation patent April 1993
Method for producing silicon single crystal from polycrystalline rod formed by continous casting patent May 1993
Melt replenishment system for dendritic web growth patent July 1993
Continuous liquid silicon recharging process in Czochralski crucible pulling patent September 1993
Method of growth-orientation of a crystal on a device using an oriented seed layer patent November 1993
Continuous liquid silicon recharging process in czochralski crucible pulling patent June 1994
Method for manufacturing polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells patent August 1994
Apparatus and method of growing single crystal patent November 1994
Method for growth of crystal patent November 1994
Process for the preparation of polycrystalline silicon ingot patent July 1995
Method for the manufacture of large single crystals patent August 1995
Solid state thermal conversion of polycrystalline alumina to sapphire using a seed crystal patent August 1996
Method for the growth of industrial crystals patent March 1997
Solid phase epitaxial crystallization of amorphous silicon films on insulating substrates patent January 1998
Process for producing polycrystalline semiconductors patent February 1998
Method for the growth of industrial crystals patent May 1998
Method for forming polycrystalline silicon film and method for fabricating thin-film transistor patent June 1998
Method for making large area single crystal silicon sheets patent September 1998
Method for forming polycrystalline silicon from the crystallization of microcrystalline silicon patent October 1998
Method of producing single crystals and a seed crystal used in the method patent August 1999
Polycrystalline silicon from the crystallization of microcrystalline silicon patent September 1999
Method and apparatus for the oriented solidification of molten silicon to form an ingot in a bottomless crystallization chamber patent February 2000
Method and apparatus for fabricating near spherical semiconductor single crystal particulate and the spherical product produced patent August 2000
Method and apparatus for fabricating near spherical semiconductor single crystal particulate and the spherical product produced patent August 2000
Method and apparatus for fabricating near spherical semiconductor single crystal particulate and the spherical product produced patent September 2000
Process and apparatus for producing polycrystalline semiconductor ingot patent October 2000
Seed crystal and method of manufacturing single crystal patent January 2001
Crucible for growing macrocrystals patent August 2001
Mold for producing silicon ingot and method for fabricating the same patent January 2002
Calcium fluoride crystal, optical article and exposure apparatus for photo-lithography using the same patent January 2002
Crucible for growing macrocrystals patent July 2002
Crucible for growing macrocrystals patent May 2003
Method of controlling crystallographic orientation in laser-annealed polycrystalline silicon films patent October 2003
Method of forming thin film transistors on predominantly <100> polycrystalline silicon films patent December 2003
Method of forming an LCD with predominantly <100> polycrystalline silicon regions patent February 2004
Mold for producing silicon ingot and method for fabricating the same patent May 2004
Method of shaping semisolid metals patent August 2004
Large size single crystal seed crystal fabrication by intergrowth of tiled seed crystals patent October 2004
Method of forming predominantly <100> polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors patent November 2004
Low defect density silicon having a vacancy-dominated core substantially free of oxidation induced stacking faults patent January 2005
Growth of uniform crystals patent February 2005
Method and apparatus for shaping semisolid metals patent February 2005
Controlled neck growth process for single crystal silicon patent March 2005
System and method for forming single-crystal domains using crystal seeds patent July 2005
Plasma production of polycrystalline silicon patent August 2005
Apparatus and method for manufacturing semiconductor grains patent February 2006
Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing monocrystalline cast silicon and monocrystalline cast silicon bodies for photovoltaics patent November 2011
Mold for producing silicon ingot and method for fabricating the same patent-application February 2002
Low defect density silicon having a vacancy-dominated core substantially free of oxidation induced stacking faults patent-application August 2002
Method of forming thin film transistors on predominantly <100> polycrystalline silicon films patent-application August 2002
Method of Forming Predominantly <100> Polycrystalline Silicon Thin Film Transistors patent-application August 2002
Method of forming an LCD with predominantly <100> polycrystalline silicon regions patent-application August 2002
Method of controlling crystallographic orientation in laser-annealed polycrystalline silicon films patent-application August 2002
Method of growing oriented single crystals with reuseable crystal seeds or crystal nuclei patent-application November 2002
Predominantly <100> polycrystalline silicon thin film transistor patent-application February 2003
Large size single crystal seed crystal fabrication by intergrowth of tiled seed crystals patent-application February 2003
Process for eliminating neck dislocations during czochralski crystal growth patent-application March 2003
Method of forming predominantly <100> polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors patent-application April 2003
Apparatus and method for manufacturing semiconductor grains patent-application May 2003
Intermittent feeding technique for increasing the melting rate of polycrystalline silicon patent-application June 2003
Plasma production of polycrystalline silicon patent-application July 2003
Controlled neck growth process for single crystal silicon patent-application November 2003
Method of producing crystal and apparatus for producing crystal patent-application November 2003
Silicon wafer and method for producing silicon single crystal patent-application July 2004
Reusable crucible for silicon ingot growth patent-application October 2004
Method and apparatus for shaping semisolid metals patent-application December 2004
Crystallization apparatus and method patent-application December 2004
Uniform seeding to control grain and defect density of crystallized silicon for use in sub-micron thin film transistors patent-application April 2005
Single-crystal silicon ingot and wafer having homogeneous vacancy defects, and method and apparatus for making same patent-application June 2005
Low defect density silicon having a vacancy-dominated core substantially free of oxidation induced stacking faults patent-application July 2005
Single crystal investment cast components and methods of making same patent-application September 2005
Semiconductor thin film manufacturing method and device, beam-shaping mask, and thin film transistor patent-application October 2005
Method of synthesising a crystalline material and material thus obtained patent-application December 2006
Crucible apparatus and method of solidifying a molten material patent-application February 2007
Silicon Casting Apparatus and Method of Producing Silicon Ingot patent-application October 2007
Directionally solidified solar-grade silicon using carbon crucibles journal April 1979