Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights
- Silex Systems (SLX) finishes constructing a pilot demonstration facility as part of the Zero-Spin Silicon (ZS-Si) project
- The project aims to validate the SILEX technology’s ability to produce high-purity ZS-Si, a key component of next-generation processor chips to power silicon quantum computers
- These computers are expected to be far more powerful than the most advanced computers today and represents a major opportunity for various industries
- The company expects the project will be completed at the end of the year when initial production tests of ZS-Si will begin
- SLX shares up 12.4 per cent to close at $3.36
Silex Systems (SLX) has finished the construction of a pilot demonstration facility which marks the third and final stage of the Zero-Spin Silicon (ZS-Si) project.
The project is aimed at validating the SILEX Laser Isotope Separation (LIS) technology’s ability to commercially produce high purity ZS-Si for the manufacturing of next-generation processor chips.
As part of the construction of the facility, the company had a pilot-scale process reactor and associated gas handling system built, and also installed a custom high-powered, multi-laser system.
Silex Managing Director and CEO Michael Goldsworthy said the completion of construction is a “hugely important milestone” for the project.
“The completion of the construction of the pilot demonstration facility represents a fantastic achievement by our extremely talented scientists, engineers and technicians, and is a key step towards demonstrating the potential viability of commercial production of ZS-Si with the SILEX technology,” he said.
ZS-Si is described as a unique form of isotopically-enriched silicon required for the fabrication of next-generation processor chips. These chips will be used to power silicon-based quantum computers which are expected to be significantly more powerful than the most advanced computers used today.
The development of such computers is expected to create new opportunities in various industries such as medicine, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and global financial systems.
Silex Systems expects the three-stage project will be completed at the end of 2022 when initial production tests of ZS-Si will begin.
SLX shares were up 12.4 per cent to close at $3.36.
