Macrocrystalline semiconductor strip - grown without seed crystal by gradual spread of dumb bell-shaped fushion zone in polycrystalline semiconductor strip

摘要

A polycrystalline semiconductor strip is converted into a macrocrystalline semiconductor strip, such as is required for solar cells, by producing a fusion zone which is narrow cf. the strip width. The fusion zone has the shape of small dumb-bells. The width of this zone is gradually extended over the full strip width as the strip is moved along under a laser beam. This method does not require any seed crystal to initiate the growth process. It is less expensive than the Czochralski method for planar material.