Single crystal silicon is a type of silicon used in solar cells, and it has a well-ordered crystalline structure made up of a single crystal. The crystal is typically obtained through the Czochralski growth technique, where a seed crystal is dipped into molten silicon and slowly pulled out to grow a single crystal ingot. The ingot is then sliced into thin wafers used in solar cells.
Silicon wafers, whether single or multi-crystalline, are commonly used to fabricate the vast majority of silicon solar cells. Features of single-crystal one include superior material parameters due to its perfectly ordered crystal structure, ensuring that each atom is precisely positioned within the structure. However, the production of this silicon involves higher costs compared to multi-crystalline silicon. Both single and multi-crystalline silicon wafers play significant roles in the solar cell industry.
Arrangement of Atoms
Single or monocrystalline silicon possesses a precisely defined band structure due to the orderly arrangement of its silicon atoms. To produce solar cells, monocrystalline silicon is typically grown as a large cylindrical ingot, resulting in circular or semi-square shapes. The circular cell is transformed into a semi-square shape by removing its edges. This allows for a more efficient arrangement of cells in a rectangular module.
Must Read: What is Polycrystalline Silicon?
