silicons

Silicons are a group of materials centered on the chemical element silicon and its compounds. Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a brittle, dark-gray solid classified as a metalloid, possessing properties between those of metals and nonmetals. In crystalline form, silicon adopts a diamond cubic lattice and acts as a semiconductor whose electrical conductivity can be precisely controlled by deliberate doping with elements such as phosphorus or boron.

In the Earth's crust, silicon is the second most abundant element by mass, making up about 27–28 percent. It mainly occurs as silica (SiO2) and in silicate minerals such as quartz and feldspars; free silicon is rare in nature. Commercial silicon is produced by reducing silica with carbon in an electric arc furnace to yield metallurgical-grade silicon, which can be purified further to produce high-purity polysilicon used in electronics and photovoltaics.

Applications of silicons include electronics, where doped crystalline silicon forms transistors and integrated circuits; solar cells, where silicon is used as a photovoltaic absorber; and construction materials, where silica and silicate minerals are foundational in glass, cement, and ceramics. Organosilicon compounds, commonly referred to as silicones, form another large and diverse class of materials used as polymers, lubricants, sealants, and coatings.

History and naming reflect silicon’s discovery in the early 19th century by Jöns Jakob Berzelius and its etymology from Latin silex or silicis, meaning flint. Naturally occurring silicon has several stable isotopes, and handling silica-containing materials requires attention to occupational health due to inhalation risks.