Pure silicon is primarily produced by heating quartz sand, which is a form of silica, to extremely high temperatures.
The initial step in producing silicon involves extracting it from silica. This process, as outlined in the reference, requires:
- Heating Quartz Sand: A large volume of quartz sand (silica) is subjected to intense heat, reaching temperatures as high as 1800 degrees Celsius.
- Isolation: This high-temperature process chemically reduces the silica, isolating the silicon.
- Result: The outcome of this heating process is pure, isolated silicon.
- Post-Processing: After the silicon cools, manufacturers typically grind it into a fine powder for further use or purification steps, depending on the desired grade of silicon (e.g., metallurgical grade or semiconductor grade).
This method produces metallurgical-grade silicon, which is pure enough for many industrial applications but requires further refinement to achieve the ultra-high purity needed for electronics and solar panels.
