This volume presents a comprehensive survey of the science and technology of crystal growth of Si for solar cells with emphasis on fundamental science. Starting from feedstock, crystal growth of bulk crystals (single crystal and multicrystals) and thin film crystals are discussed. Numerous illustrations promote a comprehension of crystal-growth physics. The fundamental knowledge on crystal growth mechanisms obtained through this book will contribute to future developments of novel crystal growth technologies for further improvement of conversion efficiency of Si-based solar cells.

Zusammenfassung
This book, a continuation of the series Advances in Materials Research, is intended to provide the general basis of the science and technology of crystal growth of silicon for solar cells. In the face of the destruction of the global environment,the degradationofworld-widenaturalresourcesandtheexha- tion of energy sources in the twenty-?rst century, we all have a sincere desire for a better/safer world in the future. In these days, we strongly believe that it is important for us to rapidly developanewenvironment-friendlycleanenergyconversionsystemusingsolar energyastheultimatenaturalenergysource. Forinstance,mostofournatural resources and energy sources will be exhausted within the next 100 years. Speci?cally, the consumption of oil, natural gas, and uranium is a serious problem. Solar energy is the only ultimate natural energy source. Although 30% of total solar energy is re?ected at the earth's surface, 70% of total solar energy can be available for us to utilize. The available solar energy amounts to severalthousand times larger than the world's energy consumption in 2000 of about 9,000 Mtoe (M ton oil equivalent). To manage 10% of the world's energy consumption at 2050 by solar energy, we must manufacture 40 GW solar cells per year continuously for 40 years. The required silicon feedstock is about 400,000 ton per year. We believe that this is an attainable target, since it can be realized by increasing the world production of silicon feedstock by 12times asmuchasthe presentproductionat2005.

Inhalt
Feedstock.- Czochralski Silicon Crystal Growth for Photovoltaic Applications.- Floating Zone Crystal Growth.- Crystallization of Silicon by a Directional Solidification Method.- Mechanism of Dendrite Crystal Growth.- Fundamental Understanding of Subgrain Boundaries.- New Crystalline Si Ribbon Materials for Photovoltaics.- Crystal Growth of Spherical Si.- Liquid Phase Epitaxy.- Vapor Phase Epitaxy.- Thin-Film Poly-Si Formed by Flash Lamp Annealing.- Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Films Formed by the Aluminum-Induced Layer Exchange (ALILE) Process.- Thermochemical and Kinetic Databases for the Solar Cell Silicon Materials.