Abstract: A method of growing a doped monocrystalline ingot using a crystal growing system is provided. The crystal growing system includes a growth chamber, a dopant feeding device, and a feed tube. The method includes preparing a melt of semiconductor or solar-grade material in a crucible disposed within the growth chamber, introducing a solid dopant into the feed tube with the dopant feeding device, melting the solid dopant within the feed tube to a form a liquid dopant, introducing the liquid dopant into the melt below a surface of the melt, and growing a monocrystalline ingot from the melt by contacting the melt with a seed crystal and pulling the seed crystal away from the melt.

Abstract: Ingot puller apparatus for preparing silicon ingots that include a dopant feed system are disclosed. The dopant feed system include a dopant conduit having a porous partition member disposed across the dopant conduit. Solid dopant falls onto the partition member where it sublimes. The sublimed dopant is carried by inert gas through the partition member to contact and dope the silicon melt.

Abstract: Ingot puller apparatus for preparing silicon ingots that include a dopant feed system are disclosed. The dopant feed system include a dopant conduit having a porous partition member disposed across the dopant conduit. Solid dopant falls onto the partition member where it sublimes. The sublimed dopant is carried by inert gas through the partition member to contact and dope the silicon melt.

Abstract: A crystal pulling apparatus for producing an ingot is provided. The apparatus includes a furnace and a gas doping system. The furnace includes a crucible for holding a melt. The gas doping system includes a feeding tube, an evaporation receptacle, and a fluid flow restrictor. The feeding tube is positioned within the furnace, and includes at least one feeding tube sidewall, a first end through which a solid dopant is introduced into the feeding tube, and an opening opposite the first end through which a gaseous dopant is introduced into the furnace. The evaporation receptacle is configured to vaporize the dopant therein, and is disposed near the opening of the feeding tube. The fluid flow restrictor is configured to permit the passage of solid dopant therethrough and restrict the flow of gaseous dopant therethrough, and is disposed within the feeding tube between the first end and the evaporation receptacle.

Abstract: A method of growing a doped monocrystalline ingot using a crystal growing system is provided. The crystal growing system includes a growth chamber, a dopant feeding device, and a feed tube. The method includes preparing a melt of semiconductor or solar-grade material in a crucible disposed within the growth chamber, introducing a solid dopant into the feed tube with the dopant feeding device, melting the solid dopant within the feed tube to a form a liquid dopant, introducing the liquid dopant into the melt below a surface of the melt, and growing a monocrystalline ingot from the melt by contacting the melt with a seed crystal and pulling the seed crystal away from the melt.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming an ingot from a melt are disclosed. A method includes placing conditioning members within a cavity defined by a crucible and placing feedstock material into the cavity. The method also includes melting the feedstock material to form the melt. A melt line is defined by a surface of the melt. The conditioning members including quartz bodies arranged at the melt line to contact the melt and reduce the number of micro-voids in the melt.

Abstract: A method of growing a doped monocrystalline ingot using a crystal growing system is provided. The crystal growing system includes a growth chamber, a dopant feeding device, and a feed tube. The method includes preparing a melt of semiconductor or solar-grade material in a crucible disposed within the growth chamber, introducing a solid dopant into the feed tube with the dopant feeding device, melting the solid dopant within the feed tube to a form a liquid dopant, introducing the liquid dopant into the melt below a surface of the melt, and growing a monocrystalline ingot from the melt by contacting the melt with a seed crystal and pulling the seed crystal away from the melt.

Abstract: A method of growing a doped monocrystalline ingot using a crystal growing system is provided. The crystal growing system includes a growth chamber, a dopant feeding device, and a feed tube. The method includes preparing a melt of semiconductor or solar-grade material in a crucible disposed within the growth chamber, introducing a solid dopant into the feed tube with the dopant feeding device, melting the solid dopant within the feed tube to a form a liquid dopant, introducing the liquid dopant into the melt below a surface of the melt, and growing a monocrystalline ingot from the melt by contacting the melt with a seed crystal and pulling the seed crystal away from the melt.

Abstract: A crystal pulling apparatus for producing an ingot is provided. The apparatus includes a furnace and a gas doping system. The furnace includes a crucible for holding a melt. The gas doping system includes a feeding tube, an evaporation receptacle, and a fluid flow restrictor. The feeding tube is positioned within the furnace, and includes at least one feeding tube sidewall, a first end through which a solid dopant is introduced into the feeding tube, and an opening opposite the first end through which a gaseous dopant is introduced into the furnace. The evaporation receptacle is configured to vaporize the dopant therein, and is disposed near the opening of the feeding tube. The fluid flow restrictor is configured to permit the passage of solid dopant therethrough and restrict the flow of gaseous dopant therethrough, and is disposed within the feeding tube between the first end and the evaporation receptacle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming an ingot from a melt are disclosed. A system includes a crucible defining a cavity for receiving the melt, and a first and second barrier to inhibit movement of the melt. A first passageway and a second passageway are arranged to allow the melt located within an outer zone to move into and through a transition zone and into an inner zone. Conditioning members are placed in at least one of the zones and arranged to contact the melt to reduce the number of micro-voids in the melt.

Abstract: A method of growing a monocrystalline silicon ingot is described. The method includes the steps of providing a monocrystalline ingot growing apparatus including a chamber having an internal pressure, and a crucible disposed within the chamber, preparing a silicon melt in the crucible, introducing an inert gas into the chamber from a gas inlet above the silicon melt, wherein the inert gas flows over the surface of the silicon melt and has a flow rate, introducing a volatile dopant including indium into the silicon melt, growing an indium-doped monocrystalline silicon ingot, and controlling the indium dopant concentration in the ingot by adjusting the ratio of the inert gas flow rate and the internal pressure of the chamber.

Abstract: A dopant feeding device for releasing dopant into a feeder system during doping of a crystal growing system includes a dopant container for holding the dopant, a lower valve, and an upper valve. The dopant container includes a wall defining a lower opening for releasing the dopant therethrough. The lower valve is positioned adjacent to the lower opening and is movable between a closed position that is in contact with the wall to prevent passage of dopant through the lower opening and an open position that is spaced from the lower opening to allow passage of dopant therethrough. The upper valve is positioned above and connected to the lower valve. The upper valve is disposed within the dopant container and is movable between a first position that is spaced from the dopant container and a second position that is in contact with the dopant container.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming an ingot from a melt are disclosed. A system includes a crucible defining a cavity for receiving the melt, and a first and second barrier to inhibit movement of the melt. A first passageway and a second passageway are arranged to allow the melt located within an outer zone to move into and through a transition zone and into an inner zone. Conditioning members are placed in at least one of the zones and arranged to contact the melt to reduce the number of micro-voids in the melt.

Abstract: A doping system for introducing liquid dopant into a melt of semiconductor or solar-grade material includes a dopant reservoir for holding dopant and a feeding tube. The dopant reservoir includes a body and a tapered end defining an opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the body. The feeding tube includes a first end extending from the opening of the reservoir, a second end distal from the first end, an angled tip disposed at the second end of the feeding tube, a first restriction for inhibiting the passage of solid dopant through the feeding tube, and a second restriction for controlling the flow of liquid dopant, the second restriction disposed near the second end of the feeding tube.

Abstract: A method of growing a doped monocrystalline ingot using a crystal growing system is provided. The crystal growing system includes a growth chamber, a dopant feeding device, and a feed tube. The method includes preparing a melt of semiconductor or solar-grade material in a crucible disposed within the growth chamber, introducing a solid dopant into the feed tube with the dopant feeding device, melting the solid dopant within the feed tube to a form a liquid dopant, introducing the liquid dopant into the melt below a surface of the melt, and growing a monocrystalline ingot from the melt by contacting the melt with a seed crystal and pulling the seed crystal away from the melt.

Abstract: A system for growing a crystal ingot from a melt includes a housing and a feed system. The housing defines a growth chamber and an ingot removal chamber positioned above the growth chamber. The feed system includes an enclosure, a feed material reservoir positioned within the enclosure, and a feed channel including an intake end and an outlet end. The intake end is configured to receive feed material from the feed material reservoir. The housing has an opening in communication with the removal chamber and a connector proximate the opening, and the enclosure has an opening and a connector configured to mate with the housing connector. The feed channel is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the feed channel extends through the opening in the housing and the outlet end is positioned within the removal chamber.

Abstract: A system for growing silicon crystal structures includes a housing defining a growth chamber and a feed system connected to the housing for delivering silicon particles to the growth chamber. The feed system includes a container for holding the silicon particles. The container includes an outlet for discharging the silicon particles. The feed system also includes a channel connected to the outlet such that silicon particles discharged from the container flow through the channel. The feed system further includes a separation valve connected to the channel and to the housing. The separation valve is configured such that a portion of the feed system rotates relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method of growing a monocrystalline silicon ingot is described. The method includes the steps of providing a monocrystalline ingot growing apparatus including a chamber having an internal pressure, and a crucible disposed within the chamber, preparing a silicon melt in the crucible, introducing an inert gas into the chamber from a gas inlet above the silicon melt, wherein the inert gas flows over the surface of the silicon melt and has a flow rate, introducing a volatile dopant including indium into the silicon melt, growing an indium-doped monocrystalline silicon ingot, and controlling the indium dopant concentration in the ingot by adjusting the ratio of the inert gas flow rate and the internal pressure of the chamber.

Abstract: A crystal pulling apparatus for producing an ingot is provided. The apparatus includes a furnace and a gas doping system. The furnace includes a crucible for holding a melt. The gas doping system includes a feeding tube, an evaporation receptacle, and a fluid flow restrictor. The feeding tube is positioned within the furnace, and includes at least one feeding tube sidewall, a first end through which a solid dopant is introduced into the feeding tube, and an opening opposite the first end through which a gaseous dopant is introduced into the furnace. The evaporation receptacle is configured to vaporize the dopant therein, and is disposed near the opening of the feeding tube. The fluid flow restrictor is configured to permit the passage of solid dopant therethrough and restrict the flow of gaseous dopant therethrough, and is disposed within the feeding tube between the first end and the evaporation receptacle.

Abstract: A doping system for introducing liquid dopant into a melt of semiconductor or solar-grade material includes a dopant reservoir for holding dopant and a feeding tube. The dopant reservoir includes a body and a tapered end defining an opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the body. The feeding tube includes a first end extending from the opening of the reservoir, a second end distal from the first end, an angled tip disposed at the second end of the feeding tube, a first restriction for inhibiting the passage of solid dopant through the feeding tube, and a second restriction for controlling the flow of liquid dopant, the second restriction disposed near the second end of the feeding tube.