Abstract: The invention herein is directed to a process for producing isocyanatoorganosilanes having low color and improved color stability over known isocyanatosilanes involving a neutralizing step in which a carbamatoorganosilane intermediate is neutralized with acid to a pH equal to or greater than 6.0, to the isocyanatosilane produced by said process and to coatings and numerous other industrial applications which are useful in numerous industries containing the isocyanatoorganosilane produced by the process.

Abstract: A method of forming high-purity elemental silicon is disclosed. The method includes the step of heating a silica gel composition, or an intermediate composition derived from a silica gel composition, wherein the silica gel composition or intermediate composition includes at least about 5% by weight carbon, and the heating temperature is above about 1550° C. The heating step results in the production of a product which includes elemental silicon. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making a photovoltaic cell. The method includes the step of forming a semiconductor substrate from elemental silicon prepared as described in this disclosure. Additional steps are then undertaken to fabricate the photovoltaic device.