A review of the process on the purification of metallurgical grade silicon by solvent refining. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Yunfei; Ma, Wenhui; Xing, Aimin; Hu, Mingshi; Liu, Shicheng; Yang, Xi; Li, Jiawang; Du, Shuzhong; Zhou, Wanli
• Is Part Of: Materials science in semiconductor processing. Volume 141(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si) -- Solvent refining -- Acid leach -- Enhanced process -- Purified silicon; Semiconductors -- Periodicals; Integrated circuits -- Materials -- Periodicals; Semiconducteurs -- Périodiques; Circuits intégrés -- Matériaux -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 621.38152
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2021.106438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8001

Abstract

Abstract: silicon shows many applications including energy field, new materials field, semiconductor field, medical field and so on. Many materials come from Metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si). Except organosilicon industry need kinds MG-Si, initial purity of MG-Si is not enough as raw materials for manufacturing alloys, semiconductors and solar cells. Because solvent refining is always occurring at a low temperature, It is regarded as an energy-saving method to upgrade the purification level of MG-Si. This paper concludes recent progress on purification of MG-Si by using solvent refining, which will obtain ideals in this research field. Kinds of combinations of solvents were introduced in detail, such as Al–Si, Cu–Si, Ca–Si, Sn–Si and Al–Si-(Sn) systems, the corresponding methods, mechanisms and technological steps were shown in details. Moreover, the enhancement of primary silicon congregation also be investigated. The corresponding solvent combinations are summarized and classified. In addition, the results of each kind combination were represented. It is expected that this review of solvent refining will help the researchers who focus the metallurgical grade silicon purification using the solvent refining method and provide their appropriate choices for purifying MG-Si.