In the field of solar energy, monocrystalline silicon is also used to make photovoltaic cells due to its ability to absorb radiation. Monocrystalline silicon consists of silicon in which the crystal lattice of the entire solid is continuous. This crystalline structure does not break at its edges and is free of any grain boundaries.
Silicon-based solar cells can either be monocrystalline or multicrystalline, depending on the presence of one or multiple grains in the microstructure. This, in turn, affects the solar cells’ properties, particularly their efficiency and performance.
With progress in silicon manufacturing technologies, a monocrystalline solar cell made a gradual comeback since the mid-2000s, as evident from Fig. 1.
Challenges in monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon ingot production are discussed. The choice of the crystallization process plays a crucial role in determining the quality and performance of the photovoltaic (PV) silicon ingots, which are subsequently used to manufacture solar cells.
Monocrystalline silicon is the base material for silicon chips used in virtually all electronic equipment today. In the field of solar energy, monocrystalline silicon is also used to make photovoltaic cells due to its ability to absorb radiation.
Photovoltaic silicon ingots can be grown by different processes depending on the target solar cells: for monocrystalline silicon-based solar cells, the preferred choice is the Czochralski (Cz) process, while for multicrystalline silicon-based solar cells directional solidification (DS) is preferred.