Silicon
(information)
Got it ✅ Thanks for clarifying — you want me to present **Silicon** in the exact same structured format as that Aluminum breakdown. Here it is: --- ### 📊 Global Silicon Uses by Sector #### **1–5: Electronics & Semiconductors (~35–40%)** 1. **Microchips & Integrated Circuits** – Processors, memory, logic chips. 2. **Transistors & Diodes** – Switching and amplification components. 3. **Solar Panels & Photovoltaics** – Crystalline silicon solar cells. 4. **MEMS & Sensors** – Accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors. 5. **LEDs & Photonics** – Light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, lasers. --- #### **6–10: Construction & Infrastructure (~25–30%)** 6. **Glass Production** – Windows, bottles, optics. 7. **Cement & Concrete (as Silica)** – Strength and durability additive. 8. **Ceramics & Porcelain** – Tiles, sanitary ware, heat-resistant products. 9. **Bricks, Tiles & Stone Products** – Structural building materials. 10. **Fiberglass & Insulation** – Reinforcement and thermal protection. --- #### **11–15: Alloys & Metallurgy (~15–20%)** 11. **Aluminum-Silicon Alloys** – Automotive engine blocks, pistons. 12. **Steelmaking (Deoxidizer)** – Removes oxygen from molten steel. 13. **Silicon Bronze** – Marine fittings, tools, coins. 14. **Magnesium-Silicon Alloys** – Aerospace and automotive parts. 15. **High-Temperature Alloys** – Jet engines, turbines, heat-resistant components. --- #### **16–20: Chemicals & Specialty Applications (~10–15%)** 16. **Silicones (Sealants & Adhesives)** – Sealants, lubricants, medical implants. 17. **Waterproofing & Coatings** – Hydrophobic protective layers. 18. **Cosmetics & Personal Care** – Silica powders in makeup and skin products. 19. **Medical Devices & Implants** – Biocompatible silicones. 20. **Batteries & Energy Storage** – Next-gen lithium-silicon anodes. --- 💡 **Summary of Approximate Shares by Sector** | Sector | % of Global Silicon Use | | ----------------------------- | ----------------------- | | Electronics & Semiconductors | 35–40% | | Construction & Infrastructure | 25–30% | | Alloys & Metallurgy | 15–20% | | Chemicals & Specialty | 10–15% | --- Do you want me to also generate the **matching pie chart visualization for Silicon**, in the same style as Aluminum, Magnesium, Oxygen, etc.?Known Methods of Extraction
Alright 👍 — next in the **periodic table order** is **Silicon (Si, atomic number 14).** Silicon is the **second most abundant element in Earth’s crust** (\~27%), found in sand (SiO₂, quartz), silicates, and clays. It never occurs free in nature — it must be extracted by **reduction of silica or by refining metallurgical-grade silicon.** Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Silicon**: --- # **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Silicon** ### **A. Industrial / Large-Scale Production** 1. **Carbothermic Reduction of Quartz (SiO₂ + C in Electric Arc Furnaces)** – Main industrial process for **metallurgical-grade silicon (MG-Si, 98–99%).** 2. **Submerged-Electrode Arc Furnace Reduction of Silica** – Large-scale industrial variant, using coke/coal as reductant. 3. **Refining MG-Si into Polysilicon (Siemens Process: Trichlorosilane Decomposition)** – Converts MG-Si → SiHCl₃ → ultra-pure polysilicon. 4. **Fluidized Bed Deposition of Silane (SiH₄)** – Alternative large-scale method for solar-grade silicon. 5. **Zone Refining of Silicon Ingots** – Produces semiconductor-grade silicon (99.999999% purity). 6. **Czochralski Crystal Growth** – Not extraction, but used to pull monocrystalline Si from molten silicon for electronics. --- ### **B. Alternative Reduction Methods** 7. **Thermite Reduction of SiO₂ with Aluminum (Aluminothermic)** – Produces high-purity silicon, though costly. 8. **Reduction of SiO₂ with Magnesium (Magnesiothermic)** – Lab and pilot-scale method, especially for nanosilicon. 9. **Reduction of SiO₂ with Calcium (Calciothermic)** – Yields silicon and CaO byproducts. 10. **Plasma Arc Reduction of SiO₂** – Uses plasma furnaces for higher efficiency and purity. 11. **Solar Thermal Carbothermic Reduction of Quartz** – Experimental process powered by concentrated sunlight. 12. **Reduction of Silica Fume (SiO₂ Byproduct from Ferroalloy Plants)** – Recycling route into silicon. --- ### **C. Silicon from Gas Chemistry** 13. **Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) from Silane (SiH₄)** – High-purity silicon for electronics and solar. 14. **Decomposition of Silicon Tetrachloride (SiCl₄)** – Produces ultrapure silicon in chemical refining. 15. **Plasma-Assisted Silane Decomposition** – Used in thin-film silicon solar cells. 16. **Laser-Induced Decomposition of Silane** – Research method for producing ultrapure or nanostructured silicon. --- ### **D. Specialized & Research Approaches** 17. **Electrolysis of Molten Silica in Fluoride Salts (e.g., CaF₂-SiO₂ Mixes)** – Experimental direct electrochemical extraction. 18. **Electrolysis of SiCl₄ in Molten Salts** – Tested as a low-temperature alternative. 19. **Electrochemical Reduction of Silica in Ionic Liquids** – Research into safer, low-temperature silicon extraction. 20. **Biogenic Extraction (From Rice Husk Ash or Plants Rich in Silica)** – Eco-friendly method producing nanosilicon. --- ✅ **Summary:** * **Main industrial path today:** Quartz → carbothermic reduction in arc furnaces → metallurgical silicon → Siemens process → polysilicon → zone refining. * **Electronics & solar panels** rely on **Czochralski-grown single crystals**. * **Historic & alternative reductions:** aluminothermic, magnesiothermic, plasma, solar carbothermic. * **Research trends:** ionic liquids, biogenic silica (from plants), solar-powered methods. --- Next in the periodic order is **Phosphorus (P, atomic number 15).** Would you like me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Phosphorus**?
