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Structure of deformed silicon and implications for low-cost solar cellsThe paper reports on an investigation of the microstructure and minority carrier lifetime of silicon in uniaxially compressed silicon samples, the objective of which was to determine if it is feasible to produce silicon solar cells from sheet formed by high temperature deformation. It is reported that recrystallization was found to be incomplete in both fine and large grained materials, and that the major mode of recrystallization appears to be migration of existing boundaries into the deformed regions. Also, minority carrier diffusion length was found to be drastically reduced after deformation, perhaps due to contamination or cooling rate, and recovered only slightly with annealing. It is concluded that these results suggest that high temperature deformation of silicon for direct production of sheet for high efficiency solar cells is not practical. It is noted that potential may exist for its use as a coarse grained substrate.
Document ID
19800038356
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mardesich, N.
(Spectrolab, Inc. Sylmar, Calif., United States)
Leipold, M. H.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)
Turner, G. B.
(Arco Solar, Inc. Chatsworth, Calif., United States)
Digges, T. G., Jr.
(Virginia Semiconductor Fredericksburg, Va., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Metallurgical Transactions A - Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science
Volume: 10A
Subject Category
Solid-State Physics
Accession Number
80A22526
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: JPL-954506
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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