Production of silicon nanoparticles from selected agricultural wastes

Abstract

Silicon production by conventional processes are complex and occur at very high temperatures. Some agricultural wastes have been utilised for silicon production in a very simple method. Agricultural wastes are produced and indiscriminately disposed into our environment constituting environmental challenges. Burning them off uncensored will definitely generate gases that could affect the climate. The United Nations has called on all governments to participate in climatic changes mitigation. Moreover, electricity generation and distributions are below the minimum expectation that can sustain Nigerian. Hence, citizens are now devising alternative energy sources that could mitigate climate changes. Solar energy potential of Nigeria encourages investment in photovoltaics (PV) technology of which silicon is required. The aim of this research is to develop an alternative utilization for some agricultural wastes as potential sources of silicon that could be deployed for PV cells. This research investigates utilization of cassava periderm, maize stalk and cob as novel sources of silicon nanoparticles. Agro-based silica nanoparticles were produced using modified sol–gel method and was then reduced using magnesium to synthesize silicon nanoparticles. The products were characterized using XRD, EDS, FT-IR, Raman and TEM. The results showed that silicon nanoparticles with particle sizes less than and purity of 33.98 nm and 98.89%, 31.20 nm and 99.89%, and 32.88 and 99.95% for CP, MS and MC, respectively were successfully produced.