Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and it is a tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor. It is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, after oxygen, primarily found in the form of silicon dioxide (quartz) and various silicates (compounds containing silicon, oxygen, and one or more metals). Silicon is crucial in various industries; it is a fundamental component in the manufacture of microelectronics and semiconductors, making it an essential material in the electronics industry for devices like computers, smartphones, and solar cells. Additionally, silicones – polymers that include silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes other elements – are used in a wide range of applications, including lubricants, adhesives, sealants, and insulation. Silicon also plays a vital role in the construction industry, used in the production of glass, concrete, and ceramics.
A breakthrough in integrated photonics has allowed researchers to harness light manipulation on silicon chips, paving the way for improved quantum computing and secure communications….
A new method enables precise nanofabrication inside silicon using spatial light modulation and laser pulses, creating advanced nanostructures for potential use in electronics and photonics….
A major breakthrough in quantum computing has been achieved with the development of ultra-pure silicon, setting the stage for the creation of powerful, scalable quantum…
Researchers at the Universities of Melbourne and Manchester have invented a breakthrough technique for manufacturing highly purified silicon that brings powerful quantum computers a big…
An international research team led by RMIT University has designed and manufactured a virus-killing surface that could help control disease spread in hospitals, labs, and…
Scientists have successfully engineered an enzyme capable of breaking down the stubborn man-made bonds between silicon and carbon that exist in widely used chemicals known…
A new model from PPPL researchers explains the production of black silicon using fluorine gas, enhancing its application in solar cells and marking a new…
Scientists developed an innovative multilayered design to significantly boost the performance of next-generation solar cells. Solar power has become indispensable in our global pursuit of…
The most advanced tandem solar cells today, composed of a silicon base and a perovskite top layer, can transform roughly one-third of the sunlight they…
HRL Laboratories, LLC, has published the first demonstration of universal control of encoded spin qubits. This newly emerging approach to quantum computation uses a novel…
This major scientific advance has implications for many fields, including energy-efficient computers and quantum technology. Until recently, physicists widely believed that it was impossible to compress…
Quantum computing engineers have set a new standard for silicon chip performance. In the world of quantum computing, two milliseconds, or two thousandths of a…
New green-light absorbing photodetectors could be useful for medical sensors, fingerprint recognition, and more. New green-light absorbing transparent organic photodetectors that are highly sensitive and…
Researchers from MIT and elsewhere have found a material that can perform much better than silicon. The next step is finding practical and economic ways…
A novel photolithography technique could be a manufacturing game-changer for optical applications. Technologies that depend on lightweight, high-precision optical systems, like space telescopes, X-ray mirrors,…
Scientists are developing microchips with advanced materials like carbon nanotubes and multiferroics to increase performance and reduce energy consumption. These technologies could lead to new…
UNSW Sydney-led research paves the way for large silicon-based quantum processors for real-world manufacturing and application. Australian researchers have achieved near-perfect quantum computing in silicon,…
Physicists and engineers have found a way to identify and address imperfections in materials for one of the most promising technologies in commercial quantum computing….