Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Silicon Seduced From Silica

Posted by Hemos on from the sally-sells-shells-by-the-seashore dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "Making silicon is an expensive process, which conventionally involves carbothermal reduction, in which the oxygen is removed from silica by a heterogeneous-homogeneous reaction sequence at approximately 1,700 C. Now, Japanese researchers have developed a new technique which uses electricity to remove the oxygen from silica. Their technique is based on the immersion of silica in a bath of molten calcium chloride salt at 850 C, which should reduce the costs of making silicon -- and other elements, like zirconium. Check this column for a summary or read this article from Nature for additional details."

3 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. f1rst p0st ..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    what a great way to start the day.

  2. How about Tooth Whitener from Sperm? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll


    At least that's something your mom is interested in, she's have the brightest teeth around! And CmdrTaco too, and long as the "applicator" is an under-aged negroid penis.

  3. Woo hoo! CHEAP cubic Zirconiums! by A55M0NKEY · · Score: 0, Troll

    Thimply Faaabulouth

    --

    Eat at Joe's.