Silicon

Si	14
Silicon

Abundance: ?% (regolith)

Silicon (periodic table symbol: Si¹⁴) is a chemical element that can be found in several minerals on Mars.

Usage

Silicon is the main material for monocrystalline solar cells, used for solar panels. Additionally, it is needed for silicone synthesis to produce synthetic materials.

Open issues

• Silicon is the most abundant chemical element of Earth's crust. Is this true for Mars, also?
• How much energy is needed to produce 1 kg of pure silicon for electronics?

? SCI

"How pure does silicon need to be? - Peter"

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