Czochralski Monocrystal Melting Setup for Stable Seeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing czochralski monocrystalline processes face challenges in first seeding and shouldering due to improper barium carbonate powder scattering, crucible positioning, and melting power settings, leading to inefficiencies and difficulties in crystal formation.

Innovation Solution

Optimizing the position of barium carbonate powder scattering and crucible positioning, along with adjusting melting power, to enhance the dissolution of barium carbonate into silicon liquid and promote a dense quartz layer formation, thereby improving the first seeding and shouldering survival rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If barium carbonate powder is uniformly attached to the inner wall of the crucible bottom corner, then the powder scattering is simplified, but the dissolution of barium carbonate into silicon liquid is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarium carbonate powder scattering operationVSAvoiddissolution time of barium carbonate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning barium carbonate powder on specific areas of the crucible inner wall (upper, middle, and lower sections) before melting begins. This predetermined distribution ensures that the powder is optimally positioned to dissolve quickly into the silicon liquid as it forms, rather than being uniformly attached at the bottom where dissolution is delayed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If the crucible is placed at the lower limit position during material melting, then the setup is simplified, but the melting efficiency decreases and crucible edge collapse occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrucible positioning setupVSAvoidmaterial melting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the crucible position adjustable rather than fixed at the lower limit. The crucible can be moved to different heights (first position for efficient melting, second position for preventing edge collapse) depending on the melting stage, optimizing both melting efficiency and crucible safety throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the crucible is placed at the lower limit position, then the positioning is simplified, but barium powder undergoes excessive high-temperature baking which negatively impacts crucible seeding and shouldering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrucible positioning setupVSAvoidcrucible seeding and shouldering quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the crucible position adjustable rather than fixed at the lower limit. The crucible can be moved to different heights (first position for efficient melting, second position for preventing edge collapse) depending on the melting stage, optimizing both melting efficiency and crucible safety throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If excessive material melting power is applied, then the melting speed is increased, but the temperature becomes excessively high causing transformation of glassy quartz to crystalline quartz

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial melting speedVSAvoidfurnace temperature during melting
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the melting power parameters to an optimal range rather than using excessive power. The power is controlled within specific parameters that maintain high melting speed while preventing the temperature from rising to levels that would cause unwanted phase transformation of the crucible quartz from glassy to crystalline form.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The optimized process reduces the number of times of first seeding and shouldering, increasing the survival rate and enhancing the quality and efficiency of monocrystalline formation.

Implementation Method 1

A heater is started, and the solid silicon material in the crucible is melted into liquid silicon at a high temperature.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

the position of barium carbonate powder scattering in the existing technologies is not thoroughly researched, or as disclosed in CN107460538A, uniformly attaching the barium carbonate powder to the inner wall of the crucible bottom corner is not beneficial to quick dissolution of the barium carbonate powder into the silicon liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

the process of decomposing the barium carbonate powder into barium oxide, and ultimately reacting barium oxide and silicon dioxide to form barium silicate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 4

the presence of barium silicate also promotes formation of a dense crystalline quartz layer at a relatively low temperature in glassy quartz

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentUS20260028748A1Czochralski Monocrystalline Forming Process and Application Thereof
Publication Date: 2026.01.29 QINGHAI GOKIN SOLAR TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is czochralski monocrystalline forming process and application thereof. A barium powder scattering position, a position of a crucible for melting, and a melting power in material preparing and melting procedures are changed and optimized: when the barium powder scattering position is at ⅔ of a position above a lower part of a straight arm of the crucible in the vertical direction: the crucible for melting is at a position of −50 mm at the beginning of melting, and at a position of 30 mm when the linear size of a non-melted block at the later stage of melting is 200 mm-300 mm; a main heater power of the melting power is 85 KW, and a bottom heater power is 70 KW.