CRYSTAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• Main Authors: DASSEL, MARK W, KERAT, UWE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 07.07.2016
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OR A HOMOGENEOUSPOLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; APPARATUS THEREFOR; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMISTRY; CRYSTAL GROWTH; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; METALLURGY; PRODUCTION OF A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITHDEFINED STRUCTURE; REFINING BY ZONE-MELTING OF MATERIAL; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SINGLE CRYSTALS OR HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITHDEFINED STRUCTURE; SINGLE-CRYSTAL-GROWTH; UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF EUTECTIC MATERIAL ORUNIDIRECTIONAL DEMIXING OF EUTECTOID MATERIAL

Mechanically fluidized systems and processes allow for efficient, cost-effective production of silicon coated particles having very low levels of contaminants such as metals and oxygen. These silicon coated particles are produced, conveyed, and formed into crystals in an environment maintained at a low oxygen level or a very low oxygen level and a low contaminant level or very low contaminant level to minimize the formation of silicon oxides and minimize the deposition of contaminants on the coated particles. Such high purity coated silicon particles may not require classification and may be used in whole or in part in the crystal production method. The crystal production method and the resultant high quality of the silicon boules produced are improved by the reduction or elimination of the silicon oxide layer and contaminants on the coated particles.