Method of forming semicrystalline silicon article and product produced thereby

Patent · Tue Mar 16 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5166786

Lindmayer, J

A method of forming a semicrystalline silicon solar energy cell having individual grains of silicon at the light-receiving surface of the cell. Impurities in the silicon concentrated in the grain boundaries are removed by etching away at least substantial portions of the boundaries at the wafer surface and between adjoining grains so that, upon subsequent diffusion, a photovoltaic junction will be formed at the light-receiving surface and will extend into the interior of the wafer between adjoining grains.

• Assignee: Solarex Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 4320168
• OSTI ID: 5166786
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 11 Dec 1978; Other Information: PAT-APPL-968039
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
FABRICATION
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
ACETIC ACID
ETCHING
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
IMPURITIES
NITRIC ACID
P-N JUNCTIONS
REMOVAL
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INORGANIC ACIDS
JUNCTIONS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE FINISHING
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion