SILEX SYSTEMS LIMITED Silex Systems Limited announced the successful completion of the second stage of the Zero-Spin Silicon (ZS-Si) project being undertaken in conjunction with project partners Silicon Quantum Computing Pty Ltd. (SQC) and UNSW Sydney (UNSW). ZS-Si, a high purity form of enriched silicon, is a key enabling material for the emerging silicon quantum computing industry. The second stage of the project demonstrated scaled-up production of ZS-Si using a prototype facility constructed 2021.
The key Stage 2 activities achieved include: Construction and operation of the prototype demonstration facility, to conduct rigorous enrichment testing focused on characterising performance, optimising throughput and improving the efficiency of the SILEX laser isotope separation (LIS) technology for the production of ZS-Si; and Accumulation of positive test results and production of small quantities of ZS-Si which confirmed the functionality and scalability of the technology to produce ZS-Si, and provide a firm basis to proceed to Stage 3. With the third stage of the project now underway, the focus is on implementing modifications to, and scaling-up of the prototype facility to increase process throughput and incorporate design improvements for efficient production of high purity ZS-Si. The resulting pilot demonstration facility is aiming to achieve production of up to 5 kilograms of ZS-Si annually. The first batches of commercial ZS-Si product are planned to be purchased by SQC under an Offtake Agreement that was executed in December 2019.
The Agreement includes SQC making three annual payments of $300,000, all of which have been received to date, as an offset against future purchases of ZS-Si produced by Silex. The overall Project objective is to apply the SILEX LIS technology to produce high purity ZS- Si with sufficiently attractive economics, and to establish the manufacturing technology and capability to scale-up production in line with anticipated increasing demand for ZS-Si as silicon- based quantum computing continues to develop over the next decade.
