Silicon
Silicio (Si, Z=14)
- Date
- 1824 · confidence high
- Place
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Credited to
- Jöns Jacob Berzelius
- People
- 👤 Jöns Jacob Berzelius1779–1848
- Field
- Matter & energy
What was discovered
Berzelius obtained pure amorphous silicon by heating potassium fluorosilicate with potassium and purifying it through repeated washing.
Gay-Lussac and Thénard had obtained impure silicon in 1811.
What it led to
- Semiconductors and microelectronics
- Silicones and modern glass
- Photovoltaic solar cells
Built on
- Isolation of potassium
- Silica identified by Lavoisier
Made possible
- Integrated circuit (Kilby)1958
- Silicon transistor