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Title: System and method for electrorefining of silicon

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for electrorefining high-purity materials, for example, silicon. An exemplary system includes at least one cathode, an anode, and a reference electrode. At least one controller, for example a potentiostat, is used to control the potential difference between a reference electrode and a cathode or anode. The system can be operated in a single phase or multiple phase operation to produce high-purity materials, such as solar-grade silicon.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1478997
Patent Number(s):
10072345
Application Number:
14/551,747
Assignee:
Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University (Scottsdale, AZ)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
SC0008862
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2014 Nov 24
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Tao, Meng. System and method for electrorefining of silicon. United States: N. p., 2018. Web.
Tao, Meng. System and method for electrorefining of silicon. United States.
Tao, Meng. Tue . "System and method for electrorefining of silicon". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1478997.
@article{osti_1478997,
title = {System and method for electrorefining of silicon},
author = {Tao, Meng},
abstractNote = {The present disclosure provides methods and systems for electrorefining high-purity materials, for example, silicon. An exemplary system includes at least one cathode, an anode, and a reference electrode. At least one controller, for example a potentiostat, is used to control the potential difference between a reference electrode and a cathode or anode. The system can be operated in a single phase or multiple phase operation to produce high-purity materials, such as solar-grade silicon.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {9}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Silicon electrodeposition
patent, November 1976


Process for producing silicon
patent, May 1984


Electrochemical process for zirconium alloy recycling
patent, May 1990


Process for low temperature electrolysis of metals in a chloride salt bath
patent, January 1995


Method of producing a higher-purity metal
patent, May 2005


Low temperature refining and formation of refractory metals
patent, January 2007


Use of a Rare Earth for the Removal of Antimony and Bismuth
patent-application, October 2010


Primary Production of Elements
patent-application, November 2010


Electrowinning of Silicon from  K2SiF6 ‐ Molten Fluoride Systems
journal, January 1980

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  • https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2130041