Floating Silicon Method

Kellerman, Peter

doi:10.2172/1126212

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DOE OSTI · 1126212

Floating Silicon Method

Kellerman, Peter

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Abstract

The Floating Silicon Method (FSM) project at Applied Materials (formerly Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates), has been funded, in part, by the DOE under a “Photovoltaic Supply Chain and Cross Cutting Technologies” grant (number DE-EE0000595) for the past four years. The original intent of the project was to develop the FSM process from concept to a commercially viable tool. This new manufacturing equipment would support the photovoltaic industry in following ways: eliminate kerf losses and the consumable costs associated with wafer sawing, allow optimal photovoltaic efficiency by producing high-quality silicon sheets, reduce the cost of assembling photovoltaic modules by creating large-area silicon cells which are free of micro-cracks, and would be a drop-in replacement in existing high efficiency cell production process thereby allowing rapid fan-out into the industry.

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14 SOLAR ENERGY 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE Floating Silicon Method, FSM

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Kellerman, Peter. 2013-12-21. Floating Silicon Method. https://doi.org/10.2172/1126212

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