Patent ID: 7981778
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of heat treating a crystalline silicon substrate, comprising: depositing an amorphous silicon film on a first surface of the crystalline silicon substrate, wherein the first surface of the crystalline silicon substrate is opposite to a second surface of the crystalline silicon substrate, a first surface of the amorphous silicon film is opposite to a second surface of the amorphous silicon film, and an interface is formed between the first surface of the crystalline silicon substrate and the second surface of the amorphous silicon film; and heating the crystalline silicon substrate and the amorphous silicon film to a temperature that is sufficient to crystallize the amorphous silicon film by solid phase crystallization, wherein the heating creates a temperature gradient in which the temperature at the second surface of the crystalline silicon substrate is greater than the temperature at the first surface of the amorphous silicon film, and the temperature gradient is between about 2° C. and about 10° C.