A major breakthrough in stable isotope enrichment and high-purity silicon production was made by Chinese scientists on June 15 — successfully realizing the first domestic mass production of silicon-28 with an isotopic abundance exceeding 99.99%. Its key performance indicators have reached internationally advanced levels.
Developed by the Research Institute of Physical and Chemical Engineering of Nuclear Industry, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the achievement provides critical support for the independent development of core materials for silicon-based quantum computing in China. It is also expected to advance innovation in cutting-edge fields such as advanced-node semiconductors, high-precision navigation systems and metrological benchmarks.
Silicon-28, a stable isotope of silicon, is widely known as the "purest silicon in the world". With zero nuclear spin, it can significantly reduce environmental noise in quantum computing systems, making it an indispensable material for silicon-based quantum chips.
Stable isotopes are not only essential materials for frontier technologies and national security, but also have irreplaceable strategic value in nuclear medical imaging, precision radiotherapy, nuclear forensics, environmental tracing and fundamental physics research.
For years, stable isotope production technologies have remained highly concentrated globally and protected by significant technical barriers, posing challenges to the independent and controllable development of key sectors including quantum technology, advanced semiconductors and high-end medical equipment.
The project team is continuing to advance the engineering applications and industrialization of stable isotope technologies — overcoming a series of world-level technical challenges in isotope separation, purification and conversion.
Their efforts are accelerating the development of an innovation chain spanning fundamental research to industrial applications — supporting the growth of China's strategic emerging industries.
