Description
Abstract: Conventional silicon production processes such as Siemens and Czochralski crystal growth are complicated. Utilization of agricultural wastes such as rice husk, rice straw and bamboo leaves has provided simple approach for silicon production. Several agricultural wastes are generated and disposed indiscriminately into the environment and thereby constitutes environmental challenges. This research investigates utilization of cassava periderm as a novel source of silicon nanoparticles. The cassava periderm was treated with acid before and after calcination to obtain silica bearing residue for sol-gel method of silica nanoparticles production. The silica was then reduced using magnesium to get silicon nanoparticles after a simple procedure of leaching. The products were characterized using XRD, SEM, EDS, FT-IR, TEM and PSA. The results show that silicon with average particle size of 33.69 nm was successfully produced. The silicon nanoparticles synthesised can be utilise in semiconductor applications.
Authors: J.O. Agunsoye, J.A.Adebisi, S.A. Bello, M. Haris, J.B. Agboola, and S.B. Hassan
Keywords: Silicon, Amorphous silica, Cassava periderm, Sol-Gel, Agricultural wastes, Nanoparticles