Working Paper Series Purification and Re

This working paper discusses the urgent need for carbon-dioxide free energy solutions to promote a sustainable society, particularly through developments in solar cell technology. The objective is to explore the purification and reduction of silica to produce high-purity silicon for solar cell applications. The methodology highlights the current inefficiencies in commercial silicon production, which involves multiple high-temperature steps leading to significant energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The study emphasizes the necessity of achieving a purity level of 99.9999% for silicon to ensure optimal performance in solar cells, which necessitates the reduction of production costs and environmental impact. Results indicate that traditional methods are not only energy-intensive but also costly, with approximately 50% of solar cell module costs attributed to silicon wafer production. Alternative methods for reducing silica and improving the sedimentation and collection efficiency of photo-generated carriers are needed to transition to economically viable and environmentally friendly solar technologies. This paper aims to contribute to the discourse on sustainable energy solutions by addressing these critical production challenges.