Solar Silicon Wafer Production Tutorial China

How are solar cells made?

The production process from raw quartz to solar cells involves a range of steps, starting with the recovery and purification of silicon, followed by its slicing into utilizable disks – the silicon wafers – that are further processed into ready-to-assemble solar cells.

Can a solar cell track individual wafers?

To address these challenges, First Solar implemented a system capable of virtual individual wafer tracking, and harnessed that system (along with sound statistical principles, ‘big data’ approaches and a touch of engineering creativity) in its TetraSun silicon solar cell production line.

How do you cut a silicon wafer?

Silicon wafers are often pre-doped with boron. Once we have our ingots ready, they can then – depending on the geometrical shape requirements, for solar cells usually space-saving hexagonal or rectangular shapes- be sliced into usually 125mm or 156mm silicon wafers by using a multiwire saw.

How do you remove oxidized silicon from a wafer?

Using hydrogen fluoride (HF) vapor, oxidized silicon layers on the substrate can be etched away from the wafer surface. The result is a wet surface that can be easily dried. By using hydrogen chloride (HCl), metallic residues on the surface can be absorbed by the chloride and thus removed from the wafer.

Are solar PV modules made in a factory?

While most solar PV module companies are nothing more than assemblers of ready solar cells bought from various suppliers, some factories have at least however their own solar cell production line in which the raw material in form of silicon wafers is further processed and refined.

Can molten silicon be used to make a solar cell?

This molten silicon is 99% pure which is still insufficient to be used for processing into a solar cell, so further purification is undertaken by applying the floating zone technique (FTZ). During the FTZ, the 99% pure silicon is repeatedly passed in the same direction through a heated tube.