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This sheet production apparatus comprises a vessel defining a channel configured to hold a melt. The melt is configured to flow from a first point to a second point of the channel. A cooling plate is disposed proximate the melt and is configured to form a sheet on the melt. A spillway is disposed at the second point of the channel. This spillway is configured to separate the sheet from the melt.

Inventors: Peter L. Kellerman, Frank Sinclair
Original Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
Primary Examiner: Michael S Lebentritt
Current U.S. Classification: 438/15; 257/E21.001; 257/E21.012; 257/E21.121; 257/E21.141; 257/E21.586; 438/19; 438/29; 438/34

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Citations

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Japan Silicon Co., Ltd.		Lateral pulling growth of crystal ribbons and apparatus therefor
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Claims

1. A sheet production method comprising:

flowing a melt of a material through a channel;

cooling said melt;

forming a sheet of said material on said melt;

flowing said sheet with said melt after said forming; and
separating said sheet from said melt.

2. The sheet production method of claim 1, wherein said sheet and said melt are comprised of silicon or silicon and germanium.

3. The sheet production method of claim 1, wherein said separating is performed using a spillway.

4. The sheet production method of claim 1, wherein said cooling is radiative cooling.

5. The sheet production method of claim 1, further comprising fabricating a solar cell with said sheet using a continuous-flow apparatus.

6. The sheet production method of claim 1, further comprising transporting said sheet through a second melt and thickening said sheet in said second melt.

7. A product formed using the method of claim 1.

8. The sheet production method of claim 1, wherein said sheet and a surface of said melt flow at approximately the same speed prior to said separating.

9. The sheet production method of claim 1, wherein said melt falls away from said sheet during said separating.

10. The sheet production method of claim 1, wherein said sheet floats on said melt.

11. A sheet production method comprising:

flowing a melt of a material through a channel;

cooling a surface of said melt;

forming a sheet of said material on said surface of said melt;

flowing said sheet with said melt after said forming; and
separating said sheet from said melt.

12. The sheet production method of claim 11, wherein said sheet and said melt are comprised of silicon or silicon and germanium.

13. The sheet production method of claim 11, wherein said separating is performed using a spillway.

14. The sheet production method of claim 11, wherein said cooling is radiative cooling.

15. A product formed using the method of claim 11.

16. The sheet production method of claim 11, wherein said sheet and said surface of said melt flow at approximately the same speed prior to said separating.

17. The sheet production method of claim 11, wherein said melt falls away from said sheet during said separating.

18. A sheet production method comprising:

flowing a melt of a material through a channel;

cooling a surface of said melt in a first region;

freezing a sheet of said material on said surface of said melt in said first region;

flowing said sheet with said melt after said freezing to a second region different from said first region; and
separating said sheet from said melt in said second region.

19. The sheet production method of claim 18, wherein said sheet and said melt are comprised of silicon or silicon and germanium.

20. The sheet production method of claim 18, wherein said cooling is radiative cooling.

Drawings