A system for producing a ribbon from a melt includes a crucible to contain a melt and a cold block. The cold block has a surface that directly faces an exposed surface of the melt. A ribbon is formed on the melt using the cold block. A furnace is operatively connected to the crucible. The ribbon passes through the furnace after removal from the melt. The furnace includes at least one gas jet. The gas jet can dope the ribbon, form a diffusion barrier on the ribbon, and/or passivate the ribbon. Part of the ribbon passes through the furnace while part of the ribbon is being formed in the crucible using the cold block.

An apparatus for controlling heat flow within a melt. The apparatus may include a crucible configured to contain the melt where the melt has an exposed surface. The apparatus may also include a heater disposed below a first side of the crucible and configured to supply heat through the melt to the exposed surface, and a heat diffusion barrier assembly comprising at least one heat diffusion barrier disposed within the crucible and defining an isolation region in the melt and an outer region in the melt.

An apparatus for controlling heat flow within a melt. The apparatus may include a crucible configured to contain the melt where the melt has an exposed surface. The apparatus may also include a heater disposed below a first side of the crucible and configured to supply heat through the melt to the exposed surface, and a heat diffusion barrier assembly comprising at least one heat diffusion barrier disposed within the crucible and defining an isolation region in the melt and an outer region in the melt.

An apparatus for growing a crystalline sheet from a melt includes a cold block assembly. The cold block assembly may include a cold block and a shield surrounding the cold block and being at an elevated temperature with respect to that of the cold block, the shield defining an opening disposed along a surface of the cold block proximate a melt surface that defines a cold area comprising a width along a first direction of the cold block, the cold area operable to provide localized cooling of a region of the melt surface proximate the cold block. The apparatus may further include a crystal puller arranged to draw a crystalline seed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction when the cold block assembly is disposed proximate the melt surface.

An apparatus for growing a crystalline sheet from a melt includes a cold block assembly. The cold block assembly may include a cold block and a shield surrounding the cold block and being at an elevated temperature with respect to that of the cold block, the shield defining an opening disposed along a surface of the cold block proximate a melt surface that defines a cold area comprising a width along a first direction of the cold block, the cold area operable to provide localized cooling of a region of the melt surface proximate the cold block. The apparatus may further include a crystal puller arranged to draw a crystalline seed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction when the cold block assembly is disposed proximate the melt surface.

A single-crystal ingot growing method includes setting a location of an MGP (maximum gauss position) of a magnetic field such that the MGP is located above the surface of a melt, setting a difference in intensity of the magnetic field between a center point of the melt and an edge point of the melt based on the set location of the MGP, setting an intensity of the magnetic field that is applied to the melt based on the set difference in intensity of the magnetic field, and growing a single-crystal ingot based on the set location of the MGP and the set intensity of the magnetic field. The magnetic field is a horizontal magnetic field, the MGP is spaced apart from the surface of the melt by a distance ranging from +50 mm to +150 mm, and the difference in intensity of the magnetic field ranges from 420G to 500G.

An apparatus for drawing a crystalline sheet from a melt. The apparatus may include a crucible configured to contain the melt and having a dam structure, where the melt comprises an exposed surface having a level defined by a top of the dam structure. The apparatus may further include a support apparatus disposed within the crucible and having an upper surface, wherein the crystalline sheet is maintained flush with the exposed surface of the melt when drawn over the support apparatus, and may include a melt-back heater directing heat through the upper surface of the support apparatus to partially melt the crystalline sheet when the crystalline sheet is drawn over the support apparatus.

An apparatus for drawing a crystalline sheet from a melt. The apparatus may include a crucible configured to contain the melt and having a dam structure, where the melt comprises an exposed surface having a level defined by a top of the dam structure. The apparatus may further include a support apparatus disposed within the crucible and having an upper surface, wherein the crystalline sheet is maintained flush with the exposed surface of the melt when drawn over the support apparatus, and may include a melt-back heater directing heat through the upper surface of the support apparatus to partially melt the crystalline sheet when the crystalline sheet is drawn over the support apparatus.

A silicon wafer horizontal growth apparatus comprises a casing forming a cavity; a crucible within the cavity and having a melting zone, an overflow port, a first and a second overflow surface; a feeding assembly for adding raw material to the melting zone at an adjustable rate; a heating assembly comprising two movable heaters disposed on the upper and lower sides of the crucible at an interval; a thermal insulation component for maintaining a temperature in the cavity; a gas flow assembly comprising a jet located above the second overflow surface, a gas conductive graphite member mounted on the bottom of the crucible, a quartz exhaust tube connected with the gas conductive graphite member, and a quartz cooling tube outside the exhaust tube; and a heat insulating baffle located above the second overflow surface for isolating the heating assembly from the jet, dividing the cavity into hot and cold zones.

A silicon wafer horizontal growth apparatus comprises a casing forming a cavity; a crucible within the cavity and having a melting zone, an overflow port, a first and a second overflow surface; a feeding assembly for adding raw material to the melting zone at an adjustable rate; a heating assembly comprising two movable heaters disposed on the upper and lower sides of the crucible at an interval; a thermal insulation component for maintaining a temperature in the cavity; a gas flow assembly comprising a jet located above the second overflow surface, a gas conductive graphite member mounted on the bottom of the crucible, a quartz exhaust tube connected with the gas conductive graphite member, and a quartz cooling tube outside the exhaust tube; and a heat insulating baffle located above the second overflow surface for isolating the heating assembly from the jet, dividing the cavity into hot and cold zones.