Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Chang-Sheng Zhu, Zi-Hao Gao, Peng Lei, Li Feng, Bo-Rui Zhao
Summary: The multi-phase field model of grain competitive growth during directional solidification of alloy is established in this study. The grain boundary evolution and grain elimination during the competitive growth of SCN-0.24-wt% camphor model alloy bi-crystals are investigated, and the effects of different crystal orientations and pulling velocities on grain boundary microstructure evolution are quantitatively analyzed. Several important findings are obtained.
Article
Crystallography
Patricia Krenckel, Yusuke Hayama, Florian Schindler, Theresa Troetschler, Stephan Riepe, Noritaka Usami
Summary: The study demonstrates the feasibility of the SMART approach on larger ingots, which successfully limits the generation of structural defects by maintaining the monocrystalline structure using functional defects, resulting in increased monocrystal area and electrical material quality.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Songsong Hu, Yunsong Zhao, Weimin Bai, Yilong Dai, Zhenyu Yang, Fucheng Yin, Xinming Wang
Summary: This study investigates a grain selection method assisted by directional columnar grains to control the crystal orientation of Ni-based single crystal superalloys. The method successfully selects grains that grow epitaxially along the un-melted directional columnar grains, providing a new approach to improve the service performance of single crystal blades.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Minako Imose, Daigo Araki, Md Azhar Uddin, Yoshiei Kato, Kiyoshi Kinoshita
Summary: The radial directional solidification technique was investigated for recycling kerf loss silicon powder into SOG-Si. The purification behavior of metallic impurities Fe and Ca determined the specific resistivity, with Fe purification being most effective at a solid fraction of 0.8 before rapidly diminishing.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE METALLURGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pengting Li, Lian Dong, Zhiqiang Hu, Shiqiang Ren, Yi Tan, Dachuan Jiang, Xiaogang You
Summary: This paper presents a method of using electron beam melting coupled with directional solidification to purify silicon scraps. Hard particles are effectively removed by the collision and clustering under the action of melt convection. Metal impurities are concentrated in the top center of the ingot due to the accelerated convection caused by the electron beam. The obtained silicon ingot has low impurity content and can be used for high-performance polycrystalline silicon production.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Crystallography
Satoshi Nakano, Xin Liu, Xue-Feng Han, Koichi Kakimoto
Summary: This study investigated the effect of evaporation flux on phosphorus concentration distribution in silicon crystal by numerical analysis, finding that controlling phosphorus evaporation flux can achieve a homogeneous phosphorus concentration distribution.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yi Zeng, Yongsheng Ren, Wenhui Ma, Hui Chen, Jing Cao, Yun Lei, Zhengxing Wang, Kazuki Morita
Summary: Developing new methods for solar photovoltaic power generation is an effective solution for future energy shortages. This study proposes a novel method for separating bulk silicon from a Si-Sn melt using electromagnetic stirring. The results show that electromagnetic stirring increases the growth rate of Si and a lower moving rate improves the enrichment percentage of Si. The downward directional solidification at a rate of 3 μm/s achieved a large area of bulk Si with an enrichment percentage of up to 88.16%.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhiqiang Hu, Guoliang Wang, Jiayan Li, Yi Tan, Yao Liu, Pengting Li
Summary: In this study, a new method was proposed to achieve the recycling of diamond-wire sawing silicon powder (DWSSP) by introducing direct current as an external means and discussing its influence mechanism on impurity removal process. By optimizing the local temperature gradient at the front of the Solid-Liquid interface, the impurity diffusion behavior was improved and the impurity content in the silicon ingot was significantly reduced. This work improved the purification efficiency of DWSSP and proposed an optimized recycling method for direct reuse in the photovoltaic industry.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yongsheng Ren, Hui Chen, Wenhui Ma, Yun Lei, Yi Zeng
Summary: A new method combining electromagnetic-field-enhanced directional solidification process with remelting treatment was proposed to refine the grain size of Al alloys and remove residual gas. High induction current helps obtain small and homogeneous grain size, while increasing moving rate affects grain size due to nucleation effect. The remelting process enables both grain refinement and H-2 degassing, with simulated analysis showing the mechanism of bubble transfer and effects of interface tension on bubble shape evolution.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dara Moazami Goodarzi, Janne Lauri, Jussi Putaala, Olli Nousiainen, Tapio Fabritius
Summary: Thermal fatigue is a key failure mode in photovoltaic modules due to differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the materials used. This research studies the performance of eddy current soldering as a non-contact technique for soldering silicon solar cells under a layer of glass. The results show that shorter exposure times increase the risk of cracks in silicon, while intermediate exposure times increase the risk of cracking in the solder joint. The performance of eddy current soldering is compared to manually soldered samples.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hannes Hempel, Tom J. Savenjie, Martin Stolterfoht, Jens Neu, Michele Failla, Vaisakh C. Paingad, Petr Kuzel, Edwin J. Heilweil, Jacob A. Spies, Markus Schleuning, Jiashang Zhao, Dennis Friedrich, Klaus Schwarzburg, Laurens D. A. Siebbeles, Patrick Dorflinger, Vladimir Dyakonov, Ryuzi Katoh, Min Ji Hong, John G. Labram, Maurizio Monti, Edward Butler-Caddle, James Lloyd-Hughes, Mohammad M. Taheri, Jason B. Baxter, Timothy J. Magnanelli, Simon Luo, Joseph M. Cardon, Shane Ardo, Thomas Unold
Summary: This article combines the expertise of fifteen laboratories to quantitatively model the current-voltage characteristics of photovoltaic materials, using (Cs,FA,MA)Pb(I,Br)(3) halide perovskite thin-film as a case study. The study examines the impact of measurement conditions, alternate interpretations, and experimental inter-laboratory variations. The results show that terahertz, microwave, and photoluminescence measurements can provide consistent information on the mobility and lifetime of charge carriers in the material, which is crucial for the efficiency of solar cells.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sanmugavel Sundaramahalingam, Aravindan Gurusamy, Nagarajan Somi Ganesan, Kesavan Venkatachalam, Ramasamy Perumalsamy
Summary: The two-dimensional numerical simulation using finite volume method investigated the directional solidification of multi-crystalline silicon ingot. The simulation results showed that annealing the grown ingot at 1523 K reduced thermal stress and dislocation density while increasing the minority carrier lifetime, which is beneficial for mass production of high-quality mc-Si ingots for photovoltaic applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
N. Dasilva-Villanueva, B. Arikan, H. H. Canar, D. Fuertes Marron, B. Hong, A. E. Kececi, S. K. Butuner, G. Bektas, R. Turan, C. del Canizo
Summary: The study investigates the potential efficiency of solar cells based on high-quality multicrystalline Upgraded Metallurgical Grade Silicon (UMG-Si) and explores the adoption of high-efficiency cell architectures. Results show that with optimized passivating layer configurations, UMG-Si wafers can achieve high carrier lifetimes and implied open circuit voltages, demonstrating the suitability of the material for high-efficiency cells.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Abigail R. Meyer, P. Craig Taylor, Michael B. Venuti, Serena Eley, Vincenzo LaSalvia, William Nemeth, Matthew R. Page, David L. Young, Paul Stradins, Sumit Agarwal
Summary: Boron-doped Czochralski silicon exhibits reduced minority carrier lifetime under light exposure due to B-O related defects. Electronic paramagnetic resonance has identified spin-active signatures of this phenomenon, shedding light on its microscopic mechanism. The formation of recombination-active defects in Cz Si is correlated with both boron and oxygen impurities.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhiqiang Zhang, Xuegong Yu, Shuai Yuan, Deren Yang
Summary: This study developed a method to identify and measure the shape of the three-dimensional solid/liquid interface, and investigated its relationship with defect density and solar cell efficiency of silicon ingots. By optimizing the heat dissipation structure and the type of heater power, a highly symmetrical and mild convex shape of the interface was achieved, resulting in reduced defect densities and improved solar cell efficiency.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
M. G. Tsoutsouva, P. E. Vullum, K. Adamczyk, M. Di Sabatino, G. Stokkan
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2020)
Article
Crystallography
Rania Hendawi, Arjan Ciftja, Gaute Stokkan, Lars Arnberg, Marisa Di Sabatino
JOURNAL OF CRYSTAL GROWTH
(2020)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jochen Busam, Gaute Stokkan, Astrid Marie F. Muggerud, Marisa Di Sabatino
Summary: Direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry with an indium-based secondary cathode technique is utilized to analyze metallic impurities in solid, nonconducting, fused high-purity quartz relevant to the solar industry. The study optimizes secondary cathode design and glow discharge conditions beyond standard practices, establishing relative sensitivity factors for the optimized conditions. The results demonstrate stable measurements with detection limits down to the part per billion range.
JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Pierpaolo Vecchi, Giovanni Armaroli, Marisa Di Sabatino, Daniela Cavalcoli
Summary: The study aims to investigate the electrical activity of metallic contaminated grain boundaries in mc-Si. It was found that iron precipitates enhance the current contrast at the grain boundaries. Two sets of mc-Si wafers contaminated with iron and aluminium were analyzed using Electron Backscatter Diffraction and Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy, contributing to an improved understanding of iron precipitates at grain boundaries in mc-Si.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rania Hendawi, Arjan Ciftja, Lars Arnberg, Marisa Di Sabatino
Summary: Safe implementation of reusable crucibles in the silicon PV industry requires a thorough understanding of reactions to avoid liquid infiltration and crucible failure. By adding colloidal silica to silicon nitride coating, the oxygen concentration can be controlled, crucible degradation can be avoided, and the pre-oxidation step can be eliminated. An analytical model was used to quantify the effect of oxygen content in the coating on the depletion rate, providing insight into hindering liquid infiltration by forming and stabilizing silicon oxynitride in the coating.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2021)
Article
Spectroscopy
Gagan Paudel, Geir Langelandsvik, Sergey Khromov, Siri Marthe Arbo, Ida Westermann, Hans Jorgen Roven, Marisa Di Sabatino
Summary: In this study, the diffusion of traces of chromium and nickel at the interface of a steel-aluminum bilayer was profiled using a new sensitive dc-GDMS instrument. The results showed enrichment of both elements at the interface, with higher concentrations for the heat-treated specimen.
ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jochen Busam, Gagan Paudel, Marisa Di Sabatino
Summary: The capabilities of indium and silicon as secondary cathodes for direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry (dc-GDMS) were compared, demonstrating that silicon is a good alternative material.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rania Hendawi, Lars Arnberg, Marisa Di Sabatino
Summary: This study focuses on the interactions between the gas atmosphere, liquid silicon, Si3N4 coating, and graphite. Experimental results show that carbon monoxide inhibits the infiltration and spreading of silicon droplets during wetting, while nitrogen promotes silicon wetting and accelerates the decomposition rate of silicon content in the coating.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rania Hendawi, Lars Arnberg, Marisa Di Sabatino
Summary: The research on coatings for graphite materials reveals that using a two-layer coating technique can improve non-wetting behavior, decrease coating degradation rate, and reduce CO evolution during isothermal holding, achieving minimal detrimental interaction between graphite and silicon oxides.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
G. Gaspar, C. Modanese, S. Bernardis, N. Enjalbert, L. Arnberg, S. Dubois, M. Di Sabatino
Summary: This study aims to investigate the influence of copper contamination on highly doped and compensated silicon materials. Experimental results show that copper atoms migrate to the surface and decrease the bulk copper content in n-type compensated wafers, while no accumulation of copper atoms is observed at the surface of p-type compensated material. However, the hole carrier mobility is affected in the presence of copper contamination.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Vladyslav Matkivskyi, Arne Karstein Royset, Gaute Stokkan, Pal Tetlie, Marisa Di Sabatino, Gabriella Tranell
Summary: This study demonstrated the combined use of white light interferometry (WLI) and Laue X-ray crystallography scanner characterisation to investigate the chemical etching response of diamond cut multi-crystalline Si (mc-Si) wafers. The topography of mc-Si surfaces before and after etching was examined to evaluate the effect of different texturing additives. The results illustrated the influence of different crystal orientations on the etching rate, with the etching speed increasing with the crystallographic similarity to the main (hkl) planes (100,110,111). The comparison of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) additives showed NaOCl to be favorable for polishing mc-Si wafers, while IPA can only be used for crystal grains close to the (111) orientation.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING B-ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL SOLID-STATE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. V. Bugten, L. Michels, R. B. Brurok, C. Hartung, E. Ott, L. Vines, Y. Li, L. Arnberg, M. Di Sabatino
Summary: The effects of boron at various concentrations on low copper spheroidal graphite iron (SGI) were investigated. It was found that boron had no noticeable effect on the size distributions, number densities, or morphologies of microparticle populations, as well as the size distributions or number densities of graphite nodules at concentrations of 130 to 140 ppm. However, even at concentrations as low as 24 ppm, boron was observed to cause rough surface morphology of graphite nodules.
METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS A-PHYSICAL METALLURGY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vladyslav Matkivskyi, Arne Karstein Royset, Gaute Stokkan, Pal Tetlie, Marisa Di Sabatino, Gabriella Tranell
Summary: This study aims to develop a combined surface morphology and crystallographic analysis method for crystalline silicon. By applying various chemical operations to multi-crystalline silicon samples and analyzing them using WLI and Laue techniques, maps for crystal orientation to etching rate dependency were created. The study demonstrates the strengths of this combinatory technique as an alternative to existing methods such as AFM and EBSD.
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Mohammed M'Hamdi, Alexandra Sheppard, Jochen Thilo Busam, Gaute Stokkan, Marisa Di Sabatino
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of iron contamination in the process of silicon ingot preparation and develops a numerical model for prediction and evaluation. The results show that mixing conditions in the melt and diffusion from the crucible and coating play important roles in iron contamination. Furthermore, introducing a diffusion barrier layer may help reduce iron contamination.
11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRYSTALLINE SILICON PHOTOVOLTAICS (SILICONPV 2021)
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Hendawi Rania, Rune Sondena, Arjan Ciftja, Gaute Stokkan, Lars Arnberg, Marisa Di Sabatino
Summary: In this work, high-performance multi-crystalline silicon (HPMC-Si) ingots were made in silicon nitride crucibles. The study found that increasing argon flow during the directional solidification process can reduce carbon levels. Preliminary lifetime measurements showed that gettering and hydrogenation can greatly improve the minority carrier lifetime. The results suggest that further improvements can be achieved by adjusting the solidification parameters.
11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRYSTALLINE SILICON PHOTOVOLTAICS (SILICONPV 2021)
(2022)
