Extraction of Silica from Natural Deposits for the Production of Silicon in Photovoltaic Applications

Abstract

The growing demand for renewable energy sources has driven extensive research and development in photovoltaic technologies. Silicon, in the form of single-crystalline or multi-crystalline wafers, dominates the photovoltaic industry due to its well-established fabrication processes and desirable electrical characteristics Silicon (Si) has long been recognized as the primary material in photovoltaic devices due to its excellent electrical properties and abundance. In this work, we provide a comprehensive review of the elaboration process of silicon for photovoltaic applications. We discuss the various techniques used to produce high-quality silicon, the main steps of the silicon elaboration process can be summarized as: Raw material preparation: Quartz sand, primarily composed of Silicon dioxide (SiO2), undergoes thorough treatment to eliminate undesired impurities. It is subjected to processes such as washing, crushing, and purification to obtain high-quality raw material. Silica reduction: The SiO2 raw material is then subjected to a high-temperature chemical reaction to reduce it into metallurgical silicon (Si). Various methods, including carbothermic reduction, are employed for this process. In carbothermic reduction, carbon, typically in the form of coke, acts as a reducing agent to react with the silica and produce pure silicon. Also the purification methods, and crystal growth techniques. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of silicon's material properties and their impact on photovoltaic device performance. The aim of work is to provide a deeper understanding of the elaboration of silicon we explore our chemical methods used to produce high-quality silicon, including the purification techniques and silicon precursor synthesis and its crucial role in the development of efficient and sustainable photovoltaic technologies.