Low cost silicon solar array project. Establishment of the feasibility of a process capable of low cost, high volume production of silane (Phase I), and the pyrolysis of silane to semiconductor-grade silicon (Phase II). Quarterly progress report, January--March 1977
A mini-plant for producing silane from dichlorosilane via a redistribution reaction has produced 97% pure SiH/sub 4/ at 93% efficiency. The residual impurities were monochlorosilane (2.5%) and dichlorosilane (.5%). The silane purity of 97% achieved by operating the silane still partial condenser at 40 psig and -32/sup 0/C outlet temperature was significantly higher than predicted by ideal vapor-liquid equilibrium considerations. Laboratory equilibrium concentrations and order of magnitude reaction rates were confirmed in mini-plant operations. Kinetic isotope studies on the mechanism of the amine catalyzed redistribution of chlorosilanes indicated the amine hydrochloride may not be the active species as originally proposed. The hydrogenation of silicon tetrachloride to trichlorosilane appears to be a true equilibrium, approachable from either HSiCl/sub 3/ or SiCl/sub 4/. Virtually no H/sub 2/SiCl/sub 2/ was formed by hydrogenation of HSiCl/sub 3/.
- Research Organization:
- Union Carbide Corp., Sistersville, W.Va. (USA); Union Carbide Corp., Parma, Ohio (USA). Carbon Products Div.
- DOE Contract Number:
- NAS-7-100-954334
- OSTI ID:
- 7287525
- Report Number(s):
- ERDA/JPL/954334-77/2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Establishment of the feasibility of a process capable of low cost, high volume production of silane, SiH/sub 4/. Low cost silicon solar array project, Task I. Quarterly progress report, October 1, 1976--December 31, 1976
Establishment of the feasibility of a process capable of low cost, high volume production of silane (Phase I), and the pyrolysis of silane to semiconductor-grade silicon (Phase II). Low Cost Silicon Solar Array Project, Task I. Quarterly progress report, April--June 1977
Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
SILANES
PRODUCTION
SILICON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
HYDROGENATION
PURIFICATION
SILICON CHLORIDES
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SEMIMETALS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR CELLS
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion
360601 - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture