Enriched Silicon
Enrichment of Silicon in one of its three natural isotopes
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Silicon has many microelectronic applications, especially silicon-28, which has a key role to play in quantum technologies, a field developing exponentially. Enriched at high levels (and thus depleted of silicon-29), it is a great material to manufacture qubits while minimizing the loss of quantum coherence.
Silicon is also used for isotopic labelling by the research community in climatology and biology , e.g. to follow shell growth.
With its gas centrifugation isotope separation process, using state-of-the-art centrifuges, Orano Stable Isotopes is able to enrich silicon over 99,9% in Si-28, but also to propose isotopically modified content in the 3 natural isotopes (28, 29 and 30). Orano offers a reliable, proven and efficient solution for isotopic separation of Silicon.
Orano can also connect its customers with experienced industrial partners for conversion of silicon tetrafluoride (SIF4) into Silane (SiH4).
- Enrichment over 99,9% by gas centrifugation of SiF4 at the Tricastin site in Silicon 28 or any modification of isotopic content compared to natural one
- Delivery under gaseous form (SiF4 and SiH4) or silica (SiO2)
Exploded view of the Stable Isotopes Laboratory
The stable isotopes production uses technologies and know-how developed for uranium over the past 60 years. With its 1900 employees, an R&D center with about 50 experts, and state-of-the-art industrial tools (the Philippe Coste plant for fluorine chemistry, the George Besse II factories using the most advanced centrifugation technology), the Tricastin site has naturally been chosen to host Orano’s stable isotopes production, which benefits from all the advantages provided by this industrial platform.
Tricastin site
- Enrichment over 99,9% by gas centrifugation of SiF4 at the Tricastin site in silicon 28 or any modification of isotopic content compared to natural one
- Very high chemical and isotopic purity
- Proven technology
- Reliable and thorough European supply chain and production