Method for preparing molten silicon melt from polycrystalline silicon charge

Claim 2

A process for preparing a pool of molten silicon in a crucible for use in growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; and (c) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon to form a pool of molten silicon.

Claim 3

The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the partially melted charge is formed by loading chunk polycrystalline silicon into the crucible and melting a portion of the chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 4

The process as set forth in claim 2 wherein the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 50 ppma hydrogen.

Claim 5

The process as set forth in claim 2 wherein the upper surface of the molten silicon has a surface area which comprises between about 25% and 50% of the total surface area of the partially melted charge.

Claim 6

The process as set forth in claim 2 wherein a weight ratio of the molten silicon to the unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon in the partially melted charge ranges from about 3:2 to about 4:1.

Claim 7

The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon is granular polycrystalline silicon and the step of forming the partially melted charge comprises loading chunk polycrystalline silicon into the crucible and melting a portion of the chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 8

The process as set forth in claim 6 wherein a weight ratio of the chunk polycrystalline silicon loaded into the crucible to the granular polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon ranges from about 2:3 to about 2:1.

Claim 9

The process as set forth in claim 6 wherein a weight ratio of the chunk polycrystalline silicon loaded into the crucible to the granular polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon ranges from about 1:1 to about 3:2.

Claim 10

The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon is granular polycrystalline silicon containing less than about 500 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 11

The process as set forth in claim 6 wherein the granular polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 50 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 12

The process as set forth in claim 6 wherein the granular polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 20 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 13

The process as set forth in claim 6 wherein the granular-polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon after it is fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon and a portion of the granular-polycrystalline silicon subsequently becomes immersed in the molten silicon.

Claim 14

The process as set forth in claim 12 wherein the granular-polycrystalline silicon is fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon at a rate which is controlled such that the temperature of the granular-polycrystalline silicon rises to about 1200° C. for a period of about 30 seconds while the granular-polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 15

The process as set forth in claim 6 wherein the granular-polycrystalline silicon is fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon at a rate ranging from about 5 kg/hr to about 15 kg/hr.

Claim 16

The process as set forth in claim 6 wherein the granular-polycrystalline silicon is fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon at a rate of about 10 kg/hr.

Claim 17

A process for preparing a molten silicon melt from polycrystalline silicon for use in producing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding granular polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon at a feed rate controlled such that the granular polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon and such that hydrogen diffuses from the granular-polycrystalline silicon while the granular polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; and (c) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon to form a molten silicon melt.

Claim 18

A process for preparing a molten silicon melt from polycrystalline silicon for use in producing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding granular polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon at a feed rate controlled such that the granular polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon and such that hydrogen diffuses from the granular-polycrystalline silicon while the granular polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; and (c) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon to form a molten silicon melt.

Claim 19

The process of claim 16 wherein the feed rate of the granular-polycrystalline silicon is controlled such that the temperature of the granular-polycrystalline silicon rise to about 1200° C. for a period of about 30 seconds while the granular-polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 20

The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the partially melted charge is formed by loading chunk polycrystalline silicon into the crucible and melting a portion of the chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 21

The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the feed rate of the granular polycrystalline silicon is controlled such that the hydrogen concentration of the granular-polycrystalline silicon is reduced to less than 1 ppma while it resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 22

A process for preparing a molten silicon melt from polycrystalline silicon for use in producing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) loading chunk-polycrystalline silicon into a crucible, the amount of chunk-polycrystalline silicon load being between about 40% to about 65% of the total amount of polycrystalline silicon melted to form the silicon melt; (b) melting the chunk-polycrystalline silicon until a partially melted charge forms in the crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (c) feeding granular-polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon, the granular-polycrystalline silicon containing less than about 400 ppma hydrogen, the feeding being at a rate controlled such that the granular polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon and such that the temperature of the granular-polycrystalline silicon rises to about 1200° C. for a period of at least about 10 seconds while it resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; and (d) melting the unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon and the granular-polycrystalline silicon until a molten silicon melt is formed.

Claim 23

A process for preparing a molten silicon melt from polycrystalline silicon for use in producing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) loading chunk-polycrystalline silicon into a crucible, the amount of chunk-polycrystalline silicon load being between about 40% to about 65% of the total amount of polycrystalline silicon melted to form the silicon melt; (b) melting the chunk-polycrystalline silicon until a partially melted charge forms in the crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (c) feeding granular-polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon, the granular-polycrystalline silicon containing less than about 400 ppma hydrogen, the feeding being at a rate controlled such that the granular polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon and such that the temperature of the granular-polycrystalline silicon rises to about 1200° C. for a period of at least about 10 seconds while it resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; and (d) melting the unmelted chunk-polycrystalline silicon and the granular-polycrystalline silicon until a molten silicon melt is formed.

Claim 24

A process for preparing a pool of molten silicon in a crucible for use in growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding granular-polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; (c) allowing the temperature of the granular-polycrystalline silicon to rise to about 1200° C. for a period of at least about 10 seconds; and (d) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the granular-polycrystalline silicon to form a pool of molten silicon.

Claim 25

A process for preparing a pool of molten silicon in a crucible for use in growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding granular-polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; (c) allowing the temperature of the granular-polycrystalline silicon to rise to about 1200° C. for a period of at least about 10 seconds; and (d) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the granular-polycrystalline silicon to form a pool of molten silicon.

Claim 26

The process as set forth in claim 21 wherein the partially melted charge is formed by loading chunk polycrystalline silicon into the crucible and melting a portion of the chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 27

The process as set forth in claim 22 wherein a weight ratio of the chunk polycrystalline silicon loaded into the crucible to the granular polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon ranges from about 2:3 to about 2:1.

Claim 28

The process as set forth in claim 22 wherein the granular polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 50 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 29

The process as set forth in claim 22 wherein the granular polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 20 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 30

The process as set forth in claim 21 wherein a weight ratio of the molten silicon to the unmelted polycrystalline silicon in the partially melted charge ranges from about 3:2 to 4:1.

Claim 31

The process as set forth in claim 21 wherein the granular-polycrystalline fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon resides thereon and has a hydrogen concentration which is reduced to less than about 1 ppma while the granular-polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 32

A process for preparing a pool of molten silicon in a crucible for use in growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding granular-polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon, (c) allowing the granular-polycrystalline silicon to reside on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient for hydrogen to diffuse from the granular-polycrystalline silicon; and (d) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the granular-polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon to form a pool of molten silicon.

Claim 33

A process for preparing a pool of molten silicon in a crucible for use in growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding granular-polycrystalline silicon onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon, (c) allowing the granular-polycrystalline silicon to reside on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient for hydrogen to diffuse from the granular-polycrystalline silicon; and (d) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the granular-polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon to form a pool of molten silicon.

Claim 34

The process as set forth in claim 28 wherein the partially melted charge is formed by loading chunk polycrystalline silicon into the crucible and melting a portion of the chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 35

The process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 50 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 36

The process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 20 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 37

The process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the temperature of the granular-polycrystalline silicon residing on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon rises to about 1200° C. for a period of about 30 seconds while the granular-polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 38

The process as set forth in claim 29 wherein the granular-polycrystalline silicon has a hydrogen concentration which is reduced to less than 1 ppma while the granular-polycrystalline silicon resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 39

A process for preparing a pool of molten silicon in a crucible for use in growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding polycrystalline silicon comprising hydrogen onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon such that the polycrystalline silicon resides thereon for a period of time; (c) allowing hydrogen to diffuse from the polycrystalline silicon during the period of time in which it resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; and (d) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the polycrystalline silicon which is fed in step (b) to form a pool of molten silicon.

Claim 40

A process for preparing a pool of molten silicon in a crucible for use in growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method, the process comprising: (a) forming a partially melted charge in a crucible, the partially melted charge comprising molten silicon having an upper surface and unmelted polycrystalline silicon exposed above the upper surface of the molten silicon; (b) feeding polycrystalline silicon comprising hydrogen onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon such that the polycrystalline silicon resides thereon for a period of time; (c) allowing hydrogen to diffuse from the polycrystalline silicon during the period of time in which it resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon; and (d) melting the unmelted polycrystalline silicon and the polycrystalline silicon which is fed in step (b) to form a pool of molten silicon.

Claim 41

The process as set forth in claim 34 wherein the partially melted charge is formed by loading chunk polycrystalline silicon into the crucible and melting a portion of the chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 42

The process as set forth in claim 34 wherein the polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 50 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted chunk polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 43

The process as set forth in claim 34 wherein the polycrystalline silicon contains less than about 20 ppma hydrogen when fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 44

The process as set forth in claim 34 wherein the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon rises to a temperature of about 1200° C. for a period of about 30 seconds during the period of time in which it resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 45

The process as set forth in claim 34 wherein the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon has a hydrogen concentration which is reduced to less than about 1 ppma during the period of time in which it resides on the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon.

Claim 46

The process as set forth in claim 34 wherein the polycrystalline silicon fed onto the exposed unmelted polycrystalline silicon is granular polycrystalline silicon and the step of forming the partially melted charge comprises loading chunk polycrystalline silicon into the crucible and melting a portion of the chunk polycrystalline silicon.