SEMI PV49 - Test Method for the Measurement of Elemental Impurity Concentrations in Silicon Feedstock for Silicon Solar Cells by Bulk Digestion, Inductively Coupled-Plasma Mass Spectrometry -

Abstract

This Standard was technically approved by the Photovoltaic – Materials Global Technical Committee. This edition was approved for publication by the global Audits and Reviews Subcommittee on August 17, 2018. Available at www.semiviews.org and www.semi.org in October 2018; originally published June 2013.

　

This Test Method can be used to monitor the bulk trace level elemental impurities in Silicon Feedstock for Silicon Solar Cells that affect the performance of the silicon solar cell, in particular,

1. the concentration of intentionally added dopants, and unintentionally added dopants, that can affect the target bulk resistivity of the solar cell wafer,

2. the concentration of metals (e.g., iron) and other impurities that can degrade the minority carrier lifetime of the solar cell wafer.

This Test Method can be used to monitor or qualify photovoltaic (PV) silicon feedstock to be used in either crystalline or multicrystalline silicon wafer production.

　

This Test Method can be used for research and development of PV silicon processes and products, such as PV silicon feedstock and crystalline and multicrystalline silicon growth processes.

　

This Test Method can facilitate a unifying of protocols and test results among worldwide laboratories used for research and development support, monitoring or qualifying product for purchase or sale or internal use.

Scope

This Test Method covers the quantitative determination of bulk trace dopant and metal contamination of crystalline, and amorphous silicon chunks using an acid mixture to dissolve the silicon matrix and analytes. The metals content of the acid, after drying, is then diluted and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For most elements the detection limit for routine analysis is on the order of 0.1 to 10,000 µg/kg (0.1 to 10,000 ppbW).

　

This Test Method does not include all the information needed to complete ICP-MS analyses. Sophisticated computer-controlled laboratory equipment, skillfully used by an experienced operator, is required to achieve the desired sensitivity. This Test Method does cover the particular factors (e.g., specimen preparation, standardization, determination of detection limits) known to affect the reliability of trace element analysis.

　

This Test Method is useful for determining the alkali elements, alkali earth, and first series transition elements, for example, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, titanium, molybdenum, boron, as well as other elements such as aluminum. The recovery of these elements from the silicon bulk is measured between 75% to 125%, using Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) intentionally added to the silicon.

　

Chunk, granule and chip sizes of or single crystal silicon can be used to determine trace metal contaminants. Since the area of irregularly-shaped chunks, chips, or granules is difficult to measure accurately, values are based on test sample weight. Using a test sample weight of 0.1 to 10 g allows detection limits at the 0.1 ppbW (parts per billion weight) level.

　

This Test Method can be used for PV silicon irrespective of all dopant species and concentrations.

　

This Test Method is especially designed to be used for bulk analysis of PV silicon with elemental concentrations in the range of ppbW to ppmW.

　

The limit of detection is determined by the method blank value limitations, and may vary with instrumentation and preparation technique.

　

Referenced SEMI Standards

SEMI C10 — Guide for Determination of Method Detection Limits
SEMI MF28 — Test Method for Minority Carrier Lifetime in Bulk Germanium and Silicon by Measurement of Photoconductive Decay
SEMI MF43 — Test Methods for Resistivity of Semiconductor Materials
SEMI MF84 — Test Method for Measuring Resistivity of Silicon Wafers With an In-Line Four-Point Probe
SEMI MF391 — Test Method of Minority Carrier Diffusion Length in Extrinsic Semiconductors by Steady-State Surface Photovoltage
SEMI MF397 — Test Method for Resistivity of Silicon Bars Using a Two-Point Probe
SEMI MF525 — Test Method for Measuring Resistivity of Silicon Wafers Using Spreading Resistance Probe
SEMI MF673 — Test Method for Measuring Resistivity of Semiconductor Wafers or Sheet Resistance of Semiconductor Films with a Noncontact Eddy-Current Gauge
SEMI MF1389 — Test Methods for Photoluminescence Analysis of Single Crystal Silicon for III-V Impurities
SEMI MF1535 — Test Method for Carrier Recombination Lifetime in Silicon Wafers by Noncontact Measurement of Photoconductive Decay by Microwave Reflectance
SEMI MF1630 — Test Method for Low Temperature FT-IR Analysis of Single Crystal Silicon for III-V Impurities
SEMI MF1724 — Test Method for Measuring Surface Metal Contamination of Polycrystalline Silicon by Acid Extraction-Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
SEMI PV1 — Test Method for Measuring Trace Elements in Silicon Feedstock for Silicon Solar Cells by High-Mass Resolution Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry

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