WO2011152973A1 - Texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates - Google Patents

Texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2011152973A1
WO2011152973A1 PCT/US2011/036163 US2011036163W WO2011152973A1 WO 2011152973 A1 WO2011152973 A1 WO 2011152973A1 US 2011036163 W US2011036163 W US 2011036163W WO 2011152973 A1 WO2011152973 A1 WO 2011152973A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
etching
texturing
crystalline silicon
silicon
solution
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2011/036163
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Curtis Dove
Baljit Singh
Greg Bauer
Jackson Hu
Mehdi Balooch
Original Assignee
Asia Union Electronic Chemical Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Asia Union Electronic Chemical Corporation filed Critical Asia Union Electronic Chemical Corporation
Publication of WO2011152973A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011152973A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/02Details
    • H01L31/0236Special surface textures
    • H01L31/02363Special surface textures of the semiconductor body itself, e.g. textured active layers
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improves chemistries and methods for texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates, particularly for use as solar cells or photovoltaic cells.
  • ARC anti-reflective coating
  • silicon oxide silicon oxide
  • silicon nitride silicon dioxide
  • titanium dioxide an anti-reflective coating
  • Another method of reducing reflectance and improving device efficiency is to texture the silicon wafer surface using a wet-chemical etch to from small structures, often having a pyramidal shape. These structures provide higher levels of light trapping due to multiple scattering. Based on geometrical optics, the texturing should be on a scale equal to or greater than optical wavelengths of the incident light to cause the incident light to reflect multiple times and thereby enhance the amount of absorption.
  • the texturing process is generally carried out using a mixture of potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and isopropyl alcohol (IP A) in deionized (DI) water as the etchant.
  • KOH potassium hydroxide
  • NaOH sodium hydroxide
  • IP A isopropyl alcohol
  • DI deionized
  • alkaline etch solutions are not generally useful for the etching of multi-crystalline silicon substrates. This is because the etch rate for silicon using alkaline solutions depends strongly on the orientation of the crystal faces exposed to the etching solution. For example, the alkaline etch rate of a Si (111) orientation is one to two orders of magnitude smaller than that of other orientations, so that when the substrate is a (100) single crystalline wafer, the resulting structures appear as four- sided pyramids having (111) orientation sidewalls. This is not true for multi- crystalline silicon substrates because the orientation varies from grain to grain within the substrate and adequate reduction of reflectance can not be easily obtained with alkaline etching.
  • the present invention provides chemicals and methods for texturing of multi- crystalline silicon substrates, particularly for use as solar cells or photovoltaic devices.
  • the solutions of the present invention provide more consistent and uniform texturing over the entire life of the solution, with a resultant decrease in the number of discarded wafers and therefore increased reliability and yield at lower cost.
  • the present invention relates to improved chemical solutions for texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates, particularly for use as solar cells or photovoltaic devices.
  • the solutions of the present invention provide more consistent and uniform texturing over the entire life of the solution.
  • Si containing ions are made part of the etching solution prior to first use to improve the isotropic etch that creates the texturing of multi-crystalline silicon.
  • the present invention provides a higher concentration of Si containing ions in the fresh etching solution by dissolving silicon in HF/HN0 3 .
  • hexafluorosilicate acid may be added to the HF/HNO3 to increase stability and consistency.
  • the concentration of silicon is maintained within a range of 4 to 30 g 1 of etch solution.
  • the effects of dissolving silicon into the etching solution for multi- crystalline silicon substrates according to the present invention are improved uniformity and consistency. In particular, superior results are achieved over the use of etching solutions that do not have the dissolved silicon.
  • the etching solutions of the present invention provide more consistent and uniform texturing of multi - crystalline silicon substrates over the entire life of the etching solution, resulting in fewer discarded wafers. Therefore, increases in reliability and yield and a lower cost are obtained by the present invention.
  • the structures formed using the etching solutions of the present invention are uniform and consistent with the textured substrates formed being particularly useful for solar cells and photovoltaic devices.

Abstract

Etching solutions for etching and texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates, particularly for use as solar cells or photovoltaic devices are described. The solutions of the present invention provide more consistent and uniform texturing over the entire life of the solution, resulting in fewer discarded wafers, increased reliability and yield and lower costs. The etching solutions HF/HN03/H20 solutions having silicon dissolved therein.

Description

TEXTURING OF MULTI-CRYSTALLINE SILICON SUBSTRATES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
(001) The present invention relates to improves chemistries and methods for texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates, particularly for use as solar cells or photovoltaic cells.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(002) It is known that the efficiency of solar cells and photovoltaic devices can be improved by reducing the reflectance of incident solar light on the device.
(003) One common method of reducing reflectance is to coat the silicon substrate with an anti-reflective coating (ARC), such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride or titanium dioxide. However, these films exhibit resonance structures that limit their effectiveness to a small range of angles and wavelengths, such that reflectance becomes highly dependent on the angle of incidence and wavelength of the light.
(004) Another method of reducing reflectance and improving device efficiency is to texture the silicon wafer surface using a wet-chemical etch to from small structures, often having a pyramidal shape. These structures provide higher levels of light trapping due to multiple scattering. Based on geometrical optics, the texturing should be on a scale equal to or greater than optical wavelengths of the incident light to cause the incident light to reflect multiple times and thereby enhance the amount of absorption.
(005) For single crystal silicon substrates, the texturing process is generally carried out using a mixture of potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and isopropyl alcohol (IP A) in deionized (DI) water as the etchant. The addition of IP A serves to mask specific silicon sites, preventing etching by the solution, to thereby form the pyramidal structures. It has also been reported that a combination of IP A and aqueous alkaline ethylene glycol resulted in more uniform pyramidal texturing on highly polished silicon (100) for use in semiconductor electronic applications.
(006) However, alkaline etch solutions are not generally useful for the etching of multi-crystalline silicon substrates. This is because the etch rate for silicon using alkaline solutions depends strongly on the orientation of the crystal faces exposed to the etching solution. For example, the alkaline etch rate of a Si (111) orientation is one to two orders of magnitude smaller than that of other orientations, so that when the substrate is a (100) single crystalline wafer, the resulting structures appear as four- sided pyramids having (111) orientation sidewalls. This is not true for multi- crystalline silicon substrates because the orientation varies from grain to grain within the substrate and adequate reduction of reflectance can not be easily obtained with alkaline etching. Therefore, acidic texturing using a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acid, .e.g. HF/HNO3/H2O has been used to etch multi-crystalline silicon substrates. Isotropic etching does not rely on crystal orientation but rather removes silicon almost independently of the different orientations of the multi -crystalline silicon substrates.
(007) It has been found that as etching solutions age, the uniformity and consistency of textured wafers improves. Because fresh etching solution does not provide uniform and consistent texturing, a significant amount of wafers may need to be discarded before the etching solution is broken in and starts to provide acceptable uniformity and consistency.
(008) Therefore, there remains a need in the art for further improvements to texturing multi-crystalline silicon substrates, particularly for use in solar cells and photovoltaic devices. In particular, there remains a need in the art for improvements to the consistence and uniformity of production throughout the life of the etching solution. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
(009) The present invention provides chemicals and methods for texturing of multi- crystalline silicon substrates, particularly for use as solar cells or photovoltaic devices. The solutions of the present invention provide more consistent and uniform texturing over the entire life of the solution, with a resultant decrease in the number of discarded wafers and therefore increased reliability and yield at lower cost.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(010) The present invention relates to improved chemical solutions for texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates, particularly for use as solar cells or photovoltaic devices. The solutions of the present invention provide more consistent and uniform texturing over the entire life of the solution.
(011) Poor uniformity of surface structures when using fresh etching solutions can be attributed at least in part to a relatively low concentration of dissolved Si in the solution. As the etching solutions are re-used (or aged), subsequently treated wafers show more consistent reflectance, leading to the belief that the difference in results between fresh and aged solutions is caused by the amount of dissolved silicon in the etching solution.
(012) Chemical reactions for achieving uniform and consistent texturing in accordance with the present invention are summarized below. In particular, isotropic etching and texturing using HF/HN03/H20 as the etching solution proceeds in accordance with the following chemical sequence.
3Si + 4HN03 +12HF→ 3SiF4 + 4NO + 8H20
This can be differentiated into two separate reactions as follows.
First the oxidation of silicon
3Si + 4HN03→ 3Si02 + 4HO + 2H20
followed by the cleavage of the Si-O bond S1O2 + 4HF→ SiF4 + 2H20
coupled with the formation of a water-soluble complex [SiF6]2" according to SiF4 + 2HF→ H2SiF6.
(013) In order to maintain consistency and uniformity throughout the life of the etching solution, it is necessary to have adequate Si containing ions in the solution at the beginning or when the etching solution is fresh. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, Si containing ions are made part of the etching solution prior to first use to improve the isotropic etch that creates the texturing of multi-crystalline silicon.
(014) The present invention provides a higher concentration of Si containing ions in the fresh etching solution by dissolving silicon in HF/HN03. Alternatively, hexafluorosilicate acid may be added to the HF/HNO3 to increase stability and consistency. However, the amount of excess dissolved silicon should be carefully monitored as too much dissolved silicon may adversely affect the texturing rate and quality. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the concentration of silicon is maintained within a range of 4 to 30 g 1 of etch solution.
(015) The effects of dissolving silicon into the etching solution for multi- crystalline silicon substrates according to the present invention are improved uniformity and consistency. In particular, superior results are achieved over the use of etching solutions that do not have the dissolved silicon. In particular, the etching solutions of the present invention provide more consistent and uniform texturing of multi - crystalline silicon substrates over the entire life of the etching solution, resulting in fewer discarded wafers. Therefore, increases in reliability and yield and a lower cost are obtained by the present invention. The structures formed using the etching solutions of the present invention are uniform and consistent with the textured substrates formed being particularly useful for solar cells and photovoltaic devices.
(016) It is anticipated that other embodiments and variations of the present invention will become readily apparent to the skilled artisan in the light of the foregoing description, and it is intended that such embodiments and variations likewise be included within the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed:
1. A wet chemical solution for etching multi-crystalline silicon substrates comprising an HF/HNO3 solution with dissolved silicon.
2. The wet chemical solution of claim 1 , wherein the dissolved silicon has a concentration of between 4 and 30 g 1.
3. The wet chemical solution of claim 1, further including hexafluorosilicate acid.
4. A method of etching multi- crystalline silicon substrates comprising:
etching the substrate using an etching solution of HF/HN03 with dissolved silicon.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the dissolved silicon has a concentration of between 4 and 30 g 1.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the etching solution further includes hexafluorosilicate acid.
7. A textured multi-crystalline silicon substrate formed by etching a multi- crystalline silicon substrate using an etching solution comprising an HF/HNO3 solution with dissolved silicon.
8. The substrate of claim 7, wherein the dissolved silicon has a concentration of between 4 and 30 g/1.
9. The substrate of claim 7, wherein the etching solution further includes hexafluorosilicate acid.
PCT/US2011/036163 2010-06-01 2011-05-12 Texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates WO2011152973A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US35012510P 2010-06-01 2010-06-01
US61/350,125 2010-06-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011152973A1 true WO2011152973A1 (en) 2011-12-08

Family

ID=45067023

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2011/036163 WO2011152973A1 (en) 2010-06-01 2011-05-12 Texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates

Country Status (2)

Country Link
TW (1) TW201214548A (en)
WO (1) WO2011152973A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130078750A1 (en) * 2010-08-02 2013-03-28 Gwangju Institute Of Science And Technology Fabricating method of nano structure for antireflection and fabricating method of photo device integrated with antireflection nano structure
CN109853036A (en) * 2019-03-05 2019-06-07 常州工程职业技术学院 A kind of etching method of Buddha's warrior attendant wire cutting polysilicon chip
CN114267751A (en) * 2021-12-22 2022-04-01 晋能清洁能源科技股份公司 Polycrystalline silicon wafer wet-method texturing method for solar cell

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060138539A1 (en) * 2004-12-23 2006-06-29 Siltronic Ag Process for treating a semiconductor wafer with a gaseous medium, and semiconductor wafer treated by this process
US20080053815A1 (en) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-06 Wacker Chemie Ag Method for processing an etching mixture which is formed during the production of highly pure silicon

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060138539A1 (en) * 2004-12-23 2006-06-29 Siltronic Ag Process for treating a semiconductor wafer with a gaseous medium, and semiconductor wafer treated by this process
US20080053815A1 (en) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-06 Wacker Chemie Ag Method for processing an etching mixture which is formed during the production of highly pure silicon

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
STEINERT ET AL.: "Study on the Mechanism of Silicon Etching in HN03-Rich HF/HNO3 Mixtures.", JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, C, vol. 111, no. 5, 12 January 2007 (2007-01-12), pages 2133 - 2140 *
WEINREICH ET AL.: "The effect of H2SiF6 on the surface morphology of textured multi-crystalline silicon.", SEMICONDUCTOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol. 21, 24 July 2006 (2006-07-24), pages 1278 - 1286 *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130078750A1 (en) * 2010-08-02 2013-03-28 Gwangju Institute Of Science And Technology Fabricating method of nano structure for antireflection and fabricating method of photo device integrated with antireflection nano structure
US9123832B2 (en) * 2010-08-02 2015-09-01 Gwangju Institute Of Science And Technology Fabricating method of nano structure for antireflection and fabricating method of photo device integrated with antireflection nano structure
CN109853036A (en) * 2019-03-05 2019-06-07 常州工程职业技术学院 A kind of etching method of Buddha's warrior attendant wire cutting polysilicon chip
CN114267751A (en) * 2021-12-22 2022-04-01 晋能清洁能源科技股份公司 Polycrystalline silicon wafer wet-method texturing method for solar cell

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW201214548A (en) 2012-04-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
TWI494416B (en) Acidic etching solution and method for texturing the surface of single crystal and polycrystal silicon substrates
US8329046B2 (en) Methods for damage etch and texturing of silicon single crystal substrates
US8053270B2 (en) Method for producing silicon substrate for solar cells
TWI472049B (en) Method of fabricating solar cell
US9583652B2 (en) Method for the wet-chemical etching back of a solar cell emitter
US20130295712A1 (en) Methods of texturing surfaces for controlled reflection
TWI451586B (en) Surface processing method of silicon substrate for solar cell, and manufacturing method of solar cell
WO2011056948A2 (en) Methods of texturing surfaces for controlled reflection
EP2466650A2 (en) Method for fabricating silicon wafer solar cell
KR101407988B1 (en) Etching solution, and method for processing surface of silicon substrate
US20140370643A1 (en) Formulation for acidic wet chemical etching of silicon wafers
CA2395265A1 (en) Process for the rough-etching of silicon solar cells
TWI435452B (en) Surface processing method of silicon substrate for solar cell, and manufacturing method of solar cell
US20130220420A1 (en) Method for the wet-chemical etching back of a solar cell emitter
JP3719632B2 (en) Method for manufacturing silicon solar cell
JP2014154617A (en) Silicon substrate having texture structure, and method of forming the same
WO2011152973A1 (en) Texturing of multi-crystalline silicon substrates
Marstein et al. Acidic texturing of multicrystalline silicon wafers
KR101213147B1 (en) Texturing agent compositions of single crystalline silicon wafers for solar cell and texturing method using the same
US20110180132A1 (en) Texturing and damage etch of silicon single crystal (100) substrates
CN111394796B (en) Monocrystalline silicon piece texturing agent and method for texturing by using same
Cecchetto et al. Highly textured multi-crystalline silicon surface obtained by dry etching multi-step process
TW201829742A (en) Wet etching surface treatment method and microporous silicon chip prepared by the same containing a hydrofluoric acid, a nitric acid, a buffer solution and water
CN108269884B (en) A kind of preparation method of Buddha's warrior attendant wire cutting polycrystalline silicon solar battery suede
Fano et al. Alkaline Texturing

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 11790168

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 11790168

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1