The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 17, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2006
Applicants:
Eric Robert, Liège, BE;
Tjakko Zijlema, Rotselaar, BE;
Inventors:
Eric Robert, Liège, BE;
Tjakko Zijlema, Rotselaar, BE;
Assignee:
Umicore, Brussels, BE;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C01B 33/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
The invention relates to the manufacture of high purity silicon as a base material for the production of e.g. crystalline silicon solar cells. SiCU is converted to Si metal by contacting gaseous SiCU with liquid Zn, thereby obtaining a Si-bearing alloy and Zn-chloride, which is separated. The Si-bearing alloy is then purified at a temperature above the boiling point of Zn. This process does not require complicated technologies and preserves the high purity of the SiCU towards the end product, as the only reactant is Zn, which can be obtained in very high purity grades and continuously recycled.