Spontaneous modification of grain boundary configuration and its application for realization of bulk multicrystalline SI with electrically inactive grain boundaries

Noritaka Usami, Kentaro Kutsukake, Takamasa Sugawara, Kozo Fujiwara, Wugen Pan, Yoshitaro Nose, Toetsu Shishido, Kazuo Nakajima

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

We utilized bi-crystals with an artificially designed grain boundary configuration as a seed for floating-zone growth of multicrystalline Si (mc-Si) in order to clarify the impact of the initial grain boundary configuration on the crystal growth. Intentionally introduced large tilt deviation from Σ3 was found to lead to appearance of new crystal grains accompanied by spontaneous modification of the grain boundary to electrically inactive Σ3 under appropriate amount of the supercooling. Based on this mechanism, a model crystal growth experiment was performed to realize mc-Si with electrically inactive grain boundaries using purposely designed 〈110〉-oriented seed crystal with an array of random grain boundaries. After 40 mm growth, all the grain boundaries were revealed to be modified to electrically inactive. These results suggest that bulk mc-Si with electrically inactive grain boundaries could be grown even by the practical casting method if oriented crystal grains with random grain boundaries could be somehow realized at the bottom of the crucible.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConference Record of the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC-4
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages960-963
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)1424400163, 9781424400164
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006
Event2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC-4 - Waikoloa, HI, United States
Duration: 2006 May 72006 May 12

Publication series

NameConference Record of the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC-4
Volume1

Conference

Conference2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC-4
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWaikoloa, HI
Period06/5/706/5/12

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Spontaneous modification of grain boundary configuration and its application for realization of bulk multicrystalline SI with electrically inactive grain boundaries'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this