Method for producing plate or tape shaped silicon crystal bodies having crystalline pillar-like structures, equivalent to columnar structures, for large surface solar cells

US4361529A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Leopold Hanke · Beyharting, DE
• Helmut Schmelz · Prien am Chiemsee, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 15, 1981
• Grant date: Nov 30, 1982
• Expiry date: Apr 15, 2001

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C30B29/605
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention provides an improved method for producing plate-shaped or tape-shaped silicon crystal bodies having pillar-like structures therein which are equivalent to columnar structures comprising conducting the sintering process, for purposes of particle enlargement, in a gas atmosphere comprised of argon and a minimum amount of hydrogen. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogen concentration in such atmosphere is about 6% by volume. The so-produced silicon bodies are useful for further processing into large-surface solar cells.