Trichlorosilane (TCS), is a colorless, inorganic compound that is commonly used as a starting material for organosilicon compounds, which are further used for coating applications in nanotechnology and surface science. It is manufactured by combining powdered metallurgical grade silicon with blowing hydrogen chloride at 300°C. It is used in the manufacture of photovoltaic modules for solar cells.
In terms of Trichlorosilane demand by application, the market is segmented into Polysilicon and Chemical Intermediate. Polysilicon dominates the market as it is widely used in semiconductors and photovoltaic cells. The stability, low toxicity of silicon, and low cost of silicon increase the demand for trichlorosilane in various industries. Polysilicon is the primary feedstock used for the production of solar cells, this feedstock consists of large rods which are crushed into chips and are further used in silicon wafers suitable for solar cell production.
Asia Pacific dominates the Trichlorosilane market owing to the strong presence of the Electronics and Solar industries. China is investing in renewable energy to reach the targets of its two carbon goals: peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. The country is said to be the biggest investor in renewable energy globally and has the largest production capacity for polysilicon accounting for more than 40% of the global capacities.
India’s elaborate solar power generation target indicates that the country will need significant capacity for Polysilicon to make PV components, to meet demand in the country. In 2022, Adani Enterprises has set up a 30 Kiloton plant of polysilicon in Gujarat.
The increasing demand for high-purity TCS for the semiconductor silicon production, and the use for the deposition of epitaxial silicon layers on silicon wafers in the semiconductor production further boost the trichlorosilane market. Its properties, such as good electrical conductivity and compatibility with silicon processing techniques, make it a versatile material for various applications in the field of electronics. The rapid development of semiconductors and the electronics industry is one of the major drivers for the Trichlorosilane market.
Polysilicon is extensively used in the production of integrated circuits (ICs), microchips, and other semiconductor devices. It serves as the base material for creating the active regions and electrical connections in these devices. Polysilicon is used to form the gates of transistors and as interconnects for routing signals between different components. It is employed in the production of thin-film transistor (TFT) arrays used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs). TFTs act as individual switches for controlling the pixels in an LCD screen. Polysilicon is used to create the active layer of the TFT, which controls the flow of current.
Polysilicon is used in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors, which are widely used in digital cameras, smartphones, and other imaging devices. It helps in creating the photodiodes and the active regions that capture light and convert it into electrical signals.
Polysilicon is used in the manufacture of solar panels; it is used as a semiconductor material that converts sunlight into electricity. The photons from the sun’s rays fall on the surface of the solar cell, where these electrons flow through a circuit, generating an electric current that is supplied to power homes, devices, and businesses. The demand for solar-grade polysilicon will boost in the forecast years as it is used as an alternative energy source.
Polysilicon is the primary material used to manufacture the wafers that form the basis of most solar cells. The production process involves growing single crystal or polycrystalline silicon ingots, which are then sliced into thin wafers. These wafers are typically made from high-purity polysilicon and serve as the active layer where sunlight is converted into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Polysilicon is also used as the interconnect material in solar cells. It forms the electrical connections between individual solar cells within a module or panel, allowing the flow of current from one cell to another and ultimately to the external circuit.
In recent years, sustainability has emerged as a rising trend, hence solar installations are rapidly increasing around the world and are predicted to boost in the forecast years as a result of rapid urbanization and the growing adoption of alternative energy sources across the world.
The increasing demand for solar energy and its related equipment, including solar-grade silicon will boost the solar energy market which will positively impact the Trichlorosilane market in the forecast period.
Trichlorosilane is a volatile and flammable material and forms an explosive compound in the atmosphere. Due to its volatile nature, the compound is to be handled with all the precautions, thereby increasing the cost of handling and storage. The high-risk factor involved in the manufacture and handling of trichlorosilane is expected to hamper the market growth in the forecast period.
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