United States Patent [191 [11] Patent Number: 4,773,973 Griiniger Et Al
United States Patent [191 [11] Patent Number: 4,773,973 Griiniger et al. [45] Date of Patent: Sep. 27, 1988 [54] PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON COATINGS FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS BY ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSITION OF 10415 l/l983 European Pat. Off. SILICON OTHER PUBLICATIONS [75] Inventors: Hans R. Griiniger, Olten; Rudolf Monnier, Chimia, 105-124 (1983). Kern, Maggia; Paul Rys, Zurich, all Elswell, J. Crystal Growth, 52, 7l4-752 (1981). of Sweden Dennis Elwell et al., Solar Energy Materials, 6, pp. 123-145, (1982). [73] Assignee: Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland D. Elimarskii et al., Chemical Abstracts, 96: 42968j (1982). [21] Appl. No.: 165,492 Primary Examiner-G. L. Kaplan . [22] ‘ Filed: Mar. 8, 1988 Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT Related US. Application Data A novel process for the electrolytic deposition of silicon [62] Division of Ser. No. 87,635, Aug. 18, 1987. from a melt containing covalent silicon compounds, in particular silicon tetrahalides, and furthermore alumin [30] Foreign Application Priority Data ium halides, alkali metal halides and halides of transition metals is carried out at relatively low temperatures of Aug. 19, 1986 [CH] Switzerland ....................... .. 3320/86 100° to 350° C. in an inert atmosphere. The silicon is deposited cathodically or anodically onto electrically [51] Int. Cl.4 .............................................. .. C25D 3/66 [52] US. Cl. 204/39 conductive material. [58] Field of Search .................................. .. 204/39, 60 The silicon coatings are homogeneous and adhere ?rmly to the substrate. The coated materials can be used [56] References Cited for the production of photoconductive or photovoltaic devices. U.S.
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