Local Measurements of Diffusion Length and Chemical Character of Metal Clusters in Multicrystalline Silicon

Abstract

We present a comprehensive description of synchrotron-based analytical microprobe techniques used to locally measure the diffusion length and chemical character of metal clusters in multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar cell material. The techniques discussed are (a) X-ray fluorescence microscopy, capable of determining the spatial distribution, elemental nature, size, morphology, and depth of metal-rich particles as small as 30 nm in diameter; (b) X-ray absorption microspectroscopy, capable of determining the chemical states of these metal-rich precipitates, (c) X-ray beam induced current (XBIC), which maps the minority carrier recombination activity, and (d) Spectrally-resolved XBIC, which maps the minority carrier diffusion length. Sensitivity limits, optimal synchrotron characteristics, and experimental flowcharts are discussed. These techniques have elucidated the nature and effects of metal-rich particles in mc-Si and the physical mechanisms limiting metal gettering from mc-Si, and have opened several promising new research directions.