Title:	Crystalline Silicon Synthesis by Magnesiothermic Reduction of Natural Silica Sand
Author(s):	A. Darghouth, S. Aouida, B. Bessais
Keywords:	Crystalline Silicon, X-Ray Diffraction, Silica Sand, Magnesiothermic Reduction, Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy
Topic:	Silicon Materials and Cells
Subtopic:	Feedstock, Crystallisation, Wafering, Defect Engineering
Event:	37th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition
Session:	2DV.2.1
Pages:	441 - 443
ISBN:	3-936338-73-6
Paper DOI:	10.4229/EUPVSEC20202020-2DV.2.1
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	paper, poster

Abstract/Summary:

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Crystalline metallurgical silicon powder was successfully produced from natural silica sand by magnesiothermic reduction. Silica sand was first transformed into silica powder which was reduced by magnesium granules at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the produced mixture is the result of a rather complex reaction leading to the formation of Si and other by-products such as MgO and Mg2Si. The removal of these by-products leads to the synthesis of crystalline silicon. The Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy spectrum of the final product exhibits a bulk Si-Si stretching vibrational mode at around 620 cm-1. Both XRD and FTIR investigations show that pure crystalline silicon powder can be easily produced at low energy cost from an abundant local and lowcost raw material.