Improved multicrystalline silicon ingot crystal quality through seed growth for high efficiency solar cells

Work on silicon crystal quality improvement and defect control has been carried out on lab-scale seeded growth ingots allowing wafers with controlled grain orientations. Both < 111 > and < 100 > monocrystalline-like ingots were produced using a combination of quartz rod dipping and a modulated conductive heat extraction system, made in-house, in a directional solidification system. Two mono-like wafer morphology types have been produced. Their structural and electrical properties are presented in detail. Copyright (c) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.