In the earth's crust is the second element silicon, where it exclusively as oxide occurs. This means that it either in the form of silica (SiO2) as an example quartz in sand or as silicate (combination of silicon with oxygen and metals, such as feldspar, mica) is bound. It is us virtually unlimited as a commodity, whose only challenge in the production of high purity.

Compared with other semiconductors such as germanium, gallium arsenide (GaAs) or Indiumphospid (InP), however, reduced silicon Ladungsträgerbeweglichkeiten, resulting in applications for high-frequency components negative impact. The aforementioned materials in this area, therefore the preference to silicon. They will also for optical elements such as light-emitting diode.
Because of the expensive production, processing often difficult and often harder to reach high crystal quality of these raw materials, which are sometimes extremely toxic, silicon has been ultimately responsible for almost all other applications as standard equipment in place.

Another advantage in the processing of silicon is the easy way to generate conductive layers are not warranted, inter alia, in MOS transistors is needed. This may in a highly oxidizing process the silicon oxide produced.

Below are the most common procedures for the collection and processing of silicon are executed.