Article on "MANUFACTURING OF SOLAR CELL"

Stage One: Silicon Purification

Manufacturers place silicon dioxide into an electric arc furnace before applying a carbon arc to remove the oxygen. Although the carbon dioxide and molten silicon that result from the process yield silicon that only has 1% impurity, it still isn’t pure enough for solar cell production.

To purify the silicon, manufacturers use the float zone technique by allowing a rod of impure silicon to pass through a heated zone a couple of times in the same direction. With each pass, the impurities are dragged toward one end until the silicon is completely purified.

Stage Two: Creation of Single Crystal Silicon

The Czochralski method, which is usually used to create the boule, involves dipping the silicon seed crystal into melted polycrystalline silicon. The seed crystal is withdrawn and rotated during the process to eliminate all impurities and form a pure cylindrical ingot or the boule.

Stage Three: Silicon Wafer Production

A circular saw is used to slice the boule into circular silicon wafers. These wafers are further cut into rectangular or hexagonal shapes to utilize the available space on the solar cell’s surface. Furthermore, the wafers are polished to perfection.

Stage Four: Doping Process

Impurities are intentionally introduced into the intrinsic semiconductor during the doping process to modulate its optical, electrical, and structural properties.

Stage Five: Placement of Electrical Contacts

Solar cells are connected to the receiver of the produced current with the use of electrical contacts. Unless these contacts are made extremely thin, the cell won’t be able to harness any sunlight. Once these electrical contacts are placed on the cells’ exposed areas, thin strips of tin-coated copper are placed between cells.

Stage Six: Anti-Reflective Coating Application

A titanium dioxide or silicon oxide anti-reflective coating is put into the silicon wafer to minimize the amount of sunlight lost when pure silicon reflects it.

Stage Seven: Solar Cell Encapsulation

The finished solar cells are sealed into ethylene vinyl acetate or silicon rubber before they’re placed into an aluminum frame with a Tedlar or Mylar back-sheet and a plastic or glass cover.