Reactor for producing silicon by decomposing a silicon-containing gas includes a gas-permeable catalyst element

摘要

Reactor for decomposing a silicon-containing gas comprises a reaction vessel (3) surrounding a reaction chamber (6) for receiving the gas through an inlet (12); a heater (17) outside the reaction chamber; and a gas-permeable catalyst element (23) between the inlet and the wall of the vessel. Independent claims are also included for: (1) producing silicon suitable for making polycrystalline silicon blocks or silicon monocrystals for photovoltaic applications by supplying a silicon-containing gas to the reaction chambers of a reactor as above so that the gas passes over the catalyst element, thermally decomposing the gas to form silicon, and separating the silicon from the gas; (2) silicon produced as above in the form of a powder with an average particle diameter of 0.1-20 mu m.