Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol.438, 76-80, 2016
Lifetime improvement of photovoltaic silicon crystals grown by Czochralski technique using "liquinert" quartz crucibles
We succeeded in growing CZ monocrystalline silicon crystals with a longer lifetime than previously achieved. The MCZ technique was not used; instead, we employed melt-phobic quartz crucibles in a conventional CZ furnace. The improved lifetime is the result of reduced carbon incorporation into the growing crystals due to the suppression of SiO evaporation from the melt in the melt-phobic crucible. The melt-phobic effect of our crucibles has the potential to control the convection of molten silicon. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.