How is silica reduced to silicon?5 answersSilica can be reduced to silicon through various methods such as metallothermic reduction, magnesiothermic reduction, and electrochemical reduction. Metallothermic reduction involves using a metal reductant like zinc with the assistance of AlCl3 to reduce SiO2 to nano-Si particles. On the other hand, magnesiothermic reduction utilizes magnesium as the reductant to produce silicon at lower temperatures. Electrochemical reduction in molten CaCl2 and CaCl2-NaCl salt mixture is another method where porous SiO2 pellets are reduced to silicon, albeit with contamination challenges. These diverse reduction processes offer insights into different approaches for effectively converting silica into silicon for various applications, including solar cells.
How does 15r to cubic form of sic take place?4 answersThe transformation of 15R-SiC to the cubic form involves various methods such as sublimation epitaxy in vacuum, Al implantation followed by UV laser annealing, and seeded sublimation growth. The growth of 15R-SiC on 4H-SiC using UV laser annealing has shown promising results in terms of crystal quality and polytype identification. Additionally, the stabilization of 15R-SiC crystals is influenced by the occurrence of facets and the shape of the crystal interface during growth, affecting the propagation of foreign polytypes and the overall crystal stability. Understanding the growth mechanisms and optimizing the growth interface shape are crucial for achieving stable bulk 15R-SiC crystals.
How is silicon used in particle physics detectors?5 answersSilicon is widely used in particle physics detectors due to its excellent properties for detecting and measuring charged particles. It is used as a sensor material in radiation detectors, such as those used in collider experiments. Silicon detectors have been developed and tested at various institutes, including KIT and IHP. These detectors consist of a sensor diode integrated with an analogue front-end based on Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) technology. The pixel size and charge collection node dimensions can be optimized to achieve desired spatial resolution and timing behavior. Simulations of silicon detectors are crucial for operational configurations, data analysis, and future detector development in high energy physics experiments. However, the current technology has limitations in terms of position resolution and minimum ionizing path length. To overcome these limitations, a novel design based on a purely digital circuit is proposed, which could potentially enable sub-micron spatial resolution and have significant impacts on experiment layout and various applications.
What are the effects of adding silicon to aluminum alloys?5 answersAdding silicon to aluminum alloys has several effects. It can increase the fatigue strength of high silicon-alloyed nodular cast iron by controlling silicon microsegregation. In alloy AK12, the introduction of ultra-finely dispersed modifier based on silicon carbide beneath a metal stream improves mechanical properties such as ultimate breaking strength, nominal yield strength, and relative elongation. A novel silicon-aluminum alloy with higher extension strength and hardness can be prepared by adjusting the element proportion and using T6 state heat treatment. Anodization of aluminum can be enhanced by coating it with silicon, resulting in higher structural integrity and improved structural properties. The addition of silicon to aluminum alloys, such as Al-5Si and Al-12Si, affects their mechanical dynamical properties, specifically fatigue life, with crack initiation being the governing factor.
What are the silicate minerals that contain silicon?5 answersSilicate minerals that contain silicon include quartz, tridymite, cristobalite, coesite, stishovite, seifertite, baddeleyite-type SiO2, high-pressure silica glass, moganite, and opal.
Why is silicon used in solar cells?4 answersSilicon is used in solar cells because it is a relatively inexpensive starting material, and solar cells made from silicon are very efficient. Silicon has good stability and a well-balanced set of electronic, physical, and chemical properties, making it an ideal material for solar cells. The success of silicon in microelectronics has also contributed to its dominance in the solar cell industry, as the economies of scale benefit the photovoltaics industry. Silicon nanostructures, such as nanowires, have been found to lower reflectance and increase the light trapping effect, resulting in higher power conversion efficiencies. Additionally, the nonradiative energy transfer effect created by nanocrystal silicon has shown promise in improving solar cell properties. Overall, the distinctive nature and properties of silicon make it a critical and widely used material in the fabrication of solar cells.