Process for making solar cell base material

US4366024A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Heliotronic Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft fur Solarzellen-Grundstoffe mbH · DE

Inventors

• Gerhard Ast · Emmerting, DE
• Josef Dietl · Schallstadt, DE
• Dieter Helmreich · Burghausen, DE
• Hans-Dieter Miller · Stammham, DE
• Erhard Sirtl · Marktl, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 25, 1980
• Grant date: Dec 28, 1982
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C30B15/06
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Competitive current generation by the exploitation of solar energy requires cheap solar cells. A process is described which makes it possible to manufacture from silicon a base material for solar cells of this type in an economical manner and in large quantities. This is achieved by bringing silicon from a supply container into contact with a non-elemental lubricating melt, which is immiscible with silicon but will not wet silicon and has a melting point below that of silicon, and by drawing off a silicon film, sliding on this lubricating melt, and solidifying the silicon continuously by cooling to below its' melting point.