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Highly productive production method for solar grade silicon using direct electrochemical reduction of silica and liquid alloy cathodes

Research Project

Project/Area Number 16H02410
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Metal making/Resorce production engineering
Research InstitutionKyoto University

Principal Investigator

Nohira Toshiyuki  京都大学, エネルギー理工学研究所, 教授 (00303876)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 安田 幸司  京都大学, 工学研究科, 特定准教授 (20533665)
Project Period (FY) 2016-04-01 – 2021-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
Budget Amount *help
¥44,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥34,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥10,350,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥8,450,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,950,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥8,450,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,950,000)
Fiscal Year 2017: ¥8,450,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,950,000)
Fiscal Year 2016: ¥15,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥12,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,630,000)
Keywords太陽電池 / 溶融塩 / 電解還元 / シリコン / 液体合金カソード
Outline of Final Research Achievements

We studied a low-energy, low-cost, and high-productivity method to produce silicon for solar cells from high-purity silica. The electrochemical reduction method in molten salt was adopted as an alternative to the conventional carbothermic reduction, and the following results were obtained. (1) The mechanism of electrochemical reduction of SiO2 on liquid Zn electrode in molten CaCl2 was investigated. As the results of electrochemical measurement and sample analysis, we found that there existed a potential region where Zn-Si alloy was formed directly and a potential region where Zn-Si alloy was formed indirectly via Zn-Ca alloy. (2) Si precipitation from liquid Zn-Si alloy was investigated, which revealed that metallic impurities could be efficiently removed.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

溶融塩化カルシウム中におけるシリカの電解還元については、新規な太陽電池用シリコン製造法への応用が期待されてきたが、従来の固体電極を用いる方法では「低生産性」および「不純物混入しやすい」という課題があった。本研究により、どちらの課題も解決できる可能性が示された。特に、液体Zn-Si合金からのSi析出における金属不純物除去を実証したことは重要である。本研究がさらに発展すれば、社会的にニーズの高い太陽電池用シリコンの新規製造法の確立が期待できる。

Report

(6 results)
  • 2020 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2019 Annual Research Report
  • 2018 Annual Research Report
  • 2017 Annual Research Report
  • 2016 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (28 results)

All 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

All Journal Article (8 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 7 results,  Open Access: 3 results,  Acknowledgement Compliant: 1 results) Presentation (20 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 7 results,  Invited: 4 results)

  • [Journal Article] Silicon Refining by Solidification from Liquid Si–Zn Alloy and Floating Zone Method2021

    • Author(s)
      Ma Yuanjia、Yasuda Kouji、Ido Akifumi、Shimao Takeyuki、Zhong Ming、Hagiwara Rika、Nohira Toshiyuki
    • Journal Title

      MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS

      Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Pages: 403-411

    • DOI

      10.2320/matertrans.M-M2020872

    • NAID

      130007990803

    • ISSN
      1345-9678, 1347-5320
    • Year and Date
      2021-03-01
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Novel Electrochemical Reactions in Molten Salts and Ionic Liquids and Their Applications2020

    • Author(s)
      NOHIRA Toshiyuki
    • Journal Title

      Electrochemistry

      Volume: 88 Issue: 6 Pages: 477-488

    • DOI

      10.5796/electrochemistry.20-00098

    • NAID

      130007936840

    • ISSN
      1344-3542, 2186-2451
    • Year and Date
      2020-11-05
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of the electrochemical reduction of SiO2 in molten CaCl22020

    • Author(s)
      Katasho Yumi、Norikawa Yutaro、Yamamoto Takayuki、Yasuda Kouji、Nohira Toshiyuki
    • Journal Title

      Electrochemistry Communications

      Volume: 115 Pages: 106740-106740

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.elecom.2020.106740

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Mechanism of Electrolytic Reduction of SiO2 at Liquid Zn Cathode in Molten CaCl22019

    • Author(s)
      Ma Yuanjia、Ido Akifumi、Yasuda Kouji、Hagiwara Rika、Homma Takayuki、Nohira Toshiyuki
    • Journal Title

      Journal of The Electrochemical Society

      Volume: 166 Issue: 6 Pages: D162-D167

    • DOI

      10.1149/2.1211904jes

    • Related Report
      2018 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Purity and Minority Carrier Lifetime in Silicon Produced by Direct Electrolytic Reduction of SiO<sub>2</sub> in Molten CaCl<sub>2</sub>2018

    • Author(s)
      ZHONG Ming、YASUDA Kouji、HOMMA Takayuki、NOHIRA Toshiyuki
    • Journal Title

      Electrochemistry

      Volume: 86 Issue: 2 Pages: 77-81

    • DOI

      10.5796/electrochemistry.17-00087

    • NAID

      130006434075

    • ISSN
      1344-3542, 2186-2451
    • Related Report
      2017 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Electrolytic Production of Silicon Using Liquid Zinc Alloy in Molten CaCl 22017

    • Author(s)
      Yasuda Kouji、Shimao Takeyuki、Hagiwara Rika、Homma Takayuki、Nohira Toshiyuki
    • Journal Title

      Journal of The Electrochemical Society

      Volume: 164 Issue: 8 Pages: H5049-H5056

    • DOI

      10.1149/2.0121708jes

    • NAID

      120006305972

    • Related Report
      2017 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Effect of Si Addition on the Electrochemical Reduction Rate of SiO2 Granules in Molten CaCl22017

    • Author(s)
      Zhong Ming、Yang Xiao、Yasuda Kouji、Homma Takayuki、Nohira Toshiyuki
    • Journal Title

      Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B

      Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Pages: 341-348

    • DOI

      10.1007/s11663-017-1132-4

    • Related Report
      2017 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] A New Electrolytic Production Process of Silicon Using Liquid Zn Alloy Cathode in Molten Salt2016

    • Author(s)
      Toshiyuki Nohira, Akifumi Ido, Takeyuki Shimao, Xiao Yang, Kouji Yasuda, Rika Hagiwara, Takayuki Homma
    • Journal Title

      ECS Transactions

      Volume: 75 Issue: 15 Pages: 17-33

    • DOI

      10.1149/07515.0017ecst

    • NAID

      120006695834

    • Related Report
      2016 Annual Research Report
    • Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Presentation] 溶融塩およびイオン液体中における新規な電気化学反応とその応用2021

    • Author(s)
      野平俊之
    • Organizer
      電気化学会第88回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] Dissolution Behavior of SiO2 and Electrochemical Reduction of Dissolved SiO2 in Molten Chlorides2020

    • Author(s)
      Y. Ma, T. Yamamoto, K. Yasuda, T. Nohira
    • Organizer
      PRiME 2020
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 溶融NaCl-CaCl2-CaO中におけるSiO2の溶解形態および電解還元2020

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,山本貴之,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      第52回溶融塩化学討論会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Electrodeposition of Crystalline Silicon Films in Molten Salts for Photovoltaic Applications2020

    • Author(s)
      T. Nohira
    • Organizer
      The 11th International Symposium of Advanced Energy Science
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 溶融NaCl-CaCl2-CaO中におけるSiO2溶解挙動とSi電析2020

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,山本貴之,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      電気化学会第87回大会
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Electrodeposition of Silicon from High Temperature Molten Salts2019

    • Author(s)
      T. Nohira, K. Yasuda, Y. Norikawa, T. Kato, A. Kondo
    • Organizer
      2nd Nucleation & Growth Research Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] 溶融塩中における液体Si-Zn合金からの単結晶Si基板上へのSi結晶成長2019

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,原口隆太郎,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      第83回マテリアルズ・テーラリング研究会
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Crystal Growth of Silicon from Liquid Si-Zn Alloy for the Production of Solar-Grade Silicon2019

    • Author(s)
      K. Yasuda, R. Haraguchi, Y. Ma, T. Nohira
    • Organizer
      The 10th International Symposium of Advanced Energy Science
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] 溶融NaCl-CaCl2-CaO中における溶解SiO2の電解還元2019

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      第51回溶融塩化学討論会
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 溶融CaCl2中における液体Zn-Ca合金陰極を用いたSiO2の電解還元2019

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      電気化学会第86回大会
    • Related Report
      2018 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Production of High-purity Silicon Ingot Utilizing Volatile Metal Flux and Solidification Refining2018

    • Author(s)
      K. Yasuda, Y. Ma, A. Ido, T. Nohira
    • Organizer
      10th KIFEE symposium
    • Related Report
      2018 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 溶融塩中における液体Si-Zn 合金からのSi の析出挙動と回収法に関する検討2018

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      第50回溶融塩化学討論会
    • Related Report
      2018 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 新規太陽電池級Si製造法を目的とした溶融塩化物中における液体Si-Zn合金からのSi析出2018

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,原口隆太郎,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      2018年度第3回関西電気化学研究会
    • Related Report
      2018 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 溶融CaCl2中での液体Si-Zn合金からのSi析出時における降温速度の影響2017

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,井戸彬文,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      第77回マテリアルズ・テーラリング研究会
    • Related Report
      2017 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] A New Electrolytic Production Process of Solar Silicon Using Liquid Zn Alloy Cathode in Molten Salt2017

    • Author(s)
      T. Nohira, K. Yasuda
    • Organizer
      2017 International Forum on Liquid Salts for Energy Storage Materials
    • Related Report
      2017 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] 溶融CaCl2中における液体Zn陰極上でのSiO2電解還元反応2017

    • Author(s)
      安田幸司,馬元嘉,井戸彬文,萩原理加,本間敬之,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      第41回電解技術討論会
    • Related Report
      2017 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 溶融CaCl2-CaO中における液体Zn陰極上での溶解SiO2の電解還元2016

    • Author(s)
      馬元嘉,井戸彬文,安田幸司,野平俊之
    • Organizer
      第47回溶融塩化学討論会
    • Place of Presentation
      新潟ときめいと
    • Year and Date
      2016-11-24
    • Related Report
      2016 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 溶融CaCl2中における液体Zn陰極上でのSiO2電解還元によるSi生成2016

    • Author(s)
      井戸彬文,安田幸司,野平俊之,萩原理加,本間敬之
    • Organizer
      第47回溶融塩化学討論会
    • Place of Presentation
      新潟ときめいと
    • Year and Date
      2016-11-24
    • Related Report
      2016 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 溶融CaCl2中における液体Si-Zn合金の電解生成ならびに合金からのSi析出2016

    • Author(s)
      安田幸司,井戸彬文,島尾武征,楊肖,野平俊之,萩原理加,本間敬之
    • Organizer
      第40回電解技術討論会
    • Place of Presentation
      アクトシティ浜松
    • Year and Date
      2016-11-17
    • Related Report
      2016 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] A New Electrolytic Production Process of Silicon Using Liquid Zn Alloy Cathode in Molten Salt2016

    • Author(s)
      T. Nohira, A. Ido, T. Shimao, X. Yang, K. Yasuda, R. Hagiwara, T. Homma
    • Organizer
      PRiME 2016 (Pacific Rim Meeting on Electrochemical and Solid-state Science 2016)
    • Place of Presentation
      Waikiki, USA
    • Year and Date
      2016-10-02
    • Related Report
      2016 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research

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Published: 2016-04-21   Modified: 2022-01-27  

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