U.S. Seeks New Way to Produce Crystalline Silicon at Low Temperature
Researchers at the University of Michigan on the 24th of January said that they have developed a new way of producing crystalline silicon at low temperatures, which is expected to make computers and solar cells cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Silica accounts for about 40% of the total amount of the earth's crust, but the industrial way of converting silica into crystalline silicon is not only costly, but extreme processing conditions also cause serious environmental pollution. Stephen Maldonado, professor of chemistry and applied physics at the University of Michigan, said that crystalline silicon in modern electronics products is obtained through a series of high-energy chemical reactions at high temperatures exceeding 2000 degrees Fahrenheit (about 1093 degrees Celsius). The entire process will produce A lot of carbon dioxide.
The research team led by Maldonado recently found a way to obtain silicon crystals directly at 180 degrees Fahrenheit (82 degrees Celsius). Their discovery took advantage of the crystallisation of sugar water that people observed in their kitchens – when sugar When the aqueous solution is in a supersaturated state, sugar naturally crystallizes.
Maldonado said that in their research, liquid metal replaced the water solvent, silicon replaced the sugar solute, and the resulting solution contained silicon tetrachloride, which was separated into liquid metal electrodes. The electrons from the base metal transform silicon tetrachloride into raw silicon, which is then dissolved into the liquid metal. Liquid metal is a very important aspect of the processing of this new route. Many solid metals can also provide the electrons needed to convert silicon tetrachloride to raw silicon, but only metals like antimony can be used without extra heat. In the case of forming a liquid that helps the formation of silicon crystals.
The crystalline silicon deposited on the surface of the liquid germanium electrode is a dark thin film with a diameter of 1/2000 mm. Maldonado hopes to obtain larger-sized silicon crystals through improved production processes, specifically for photoelectric conversion or energy storage. The research team is understanding several variables in the new approach to crystalline silicon production, including the use of other low-melting metal alloys.
If the new approach proves to be feasible, then it will have great significance, especially for the solar energy industry. Crystal silicon is currently the most important solar material. The high cost of silicon has led many researchers to actively seek alternative semiconductors. However, Maldonado also said that it is too early to calculate precisely how much the new path can bring down the price of silicon crystals, but the new path does have the potential for large-scale, low-cost and environmentally-friendly production of crystalline silicon. They are also exploring other methods, including the use of other low-melting metal alloys, and ultimately a one-step conversion of silica to crystalline silicon. (Reporter Mao Li Wang Xiaolong)
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