Techniques for controlling resistivity in the formation of a silicon ingot
from compensated feedstock silicon material prepares a compensated,
upgraded metallurgical silicon feedstock for being melted to form a
silicon melt. The compensated, upgraded metallurgical silicon feedstock
provides a predominantly p-type semiconductor for which the process
assesses the concentrations of boron and phosphorus and adds a
predetermined amount of aluminum or/and gallium. The process further
melts the silicon feedstock together with a predetermined amount of
aluminum or/and gallium to form a molten silicon solution from which to
perform directional solidification and, by virtue of adding aluminum
or/and gallium, maintains the homogeneity the resistivity of the silicon
ingot throughout the silicon ingot. In the case of feedstock silicon
leading to low resistivity in respective ingots, typically below 0.4
.OMEGA.cm, a balanced amount of phosphorus can be optionally added to
aluminum or/and gallium. Adding phosphorus becomes mandatory at very low
resistivity, typically close to 0.2 .OMEGA.cm and slightly below.