Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing are described. The methods are developed to increase corrosion resistance to a substrate, such as a metal substrate. The methods include forming a first oxygen-containing material on a substrate. The first oxygen-containing material may be or include silicon oxide, yttrium oxide, or aluminum oxide. The methods may include forming a barrier layer on the first oxygen-containing material. The methods may include forming a second oxygen-containing material on the barrier layer. The second oxygen-containing material may be or include silicon oxide, yttrium oxide, or aluminum oxide.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water treatment and/or desalination.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water treatment and/or desalination.

Abstract: Example systems are described for producing solar grade silicon from a silicon-generating reaction and recycled silicon particles. In one example, a system for manufacturing high purity solid silicon includes a reactor and a cooling chamber. The reactor includes one or more outlets and a reactor chamber. The one or more outlets are configured to receive a silicon tetrahalide, a reducing agent, and recycled silicon particles. The reactor chamber is configured to react the silicon tetrahalide and the reducing agent to produce fresh silicon, a halide salt, and reaction heat. The reactor chamber heats the recycled silicon particles, the fresh silicon, and the halide salt using at least a portion of the reaction heat to form molten silicon and molten halide salt. The molten silicon includes melted fresh silicon and melted recycled silicon particles. The cooling chamber is configured to cool the molten silicon to form the solid silicon.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates generally to a method for thermally decomposing a complex precursor salt. In one embodiment, the method includes heating a salt in a reactor until a molten salt is formed, adding the complex precursor salt to the molten salt in the reactor and removing a volatile precursor halide formed from thermal decomposition of the complex precursor salt from the reactor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for synthesizing low nitrogen concentration organic liquids from biomass, such as algae, the organic liquids being suitable for refining into fuels and other chemicals. The biomass together with a solvent that is immiscible with water at room temperature are subjected to a subcritical hydrothermal treatment to disrupt cell structure and transform the biomass into a gas phase, a bio-oil phase, an aqueous phase and a solid phase. The aqueous phase contains most of the nitrogen. The resulting multi-phasic mixture can be separated into four phases, including an aqueous phase and the organic liquid which consists of bio-oil dissolved in the solvent. Refined organic liquid can be recycled into the hydrothermal treatment as the solvent. The subcritical hydrothermal treatment can be performed at a generally low temperature and followed by a second hydrothermal treatment at a higher temperature.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates generally to a method for recovering an element from a mixture of the element with an ionic halide. In one embodiment, the method includes treating the mixture of the element and the ionic halide with an acidic solution to dissolve the ionic halide, wherein the acidic solution comprises water and an acid and has a pH of less than 1.0 and removing the element from an aqueous solution that results after the treating step.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a multi-stage system for performing melt coalescence and separation, the multi-stage system. In one embodiment, the multi-stage system includes a first container for mixing a powder with a salt, the first container having an opening, a heating means coupled to the first container for heating the first container and a second container coupled to the first container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates generally to a method for thermally decomposing a complex precursor salt. In one embodiment, the method includes heating a salt in a reactor until a molten salt is formed, adding the complex precursor salt to the molten salt in the reactor and removing a volatile precursor halide formed from thermal decomposition of the complex precursor salt from the reactor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates generally to a method for recovering an element from a mixture of the element with an ionic halide. In one embodiment, the method includes treating the mixture of the element and the ionic halide with an acidic solution to dissolve the ionic halide, wherein the acidic solution comprises water and an acid and has a pH of less than 1.0 and removing the element from an aqueous solution that results after the treating step.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a multi-stage system for performing melt coalescence and separation, the multi-stage system. In one embodiment, the multi-stage system includes a first container for mixing a powder with a salt, the first container having an opening, a heating means coupled to the first container for heating the first container and a second container coupled to the first container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a method for reutilizing ionic halides in a production of an elemental material. In one embodiment, the method includes reacting a mixture of an ionic halide, at least one of: an oxide, suboxide or an oxyhalide of an element to be produced and an aqueous acid solution at moderate temperature to form a complex precursor salt and a salt, forming a precursor halide from the complex precursor salt, reducing the precursor halide into the element to be produced and the ionic halide and returning the ionic halide into the mixture of the reacting step.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a liquid injector for silicon production. In one embodiment, the injector includes a tube having at least one opening at a first end of said tube, a moveable sealing means disposed inside the tube for sealing the at least one opening and a heating means coupled to the tube for controlling a temperature of a liquid exiting the tube through the at least one opening.