Radiation assisted electrostatic separation of semiconductor materials

• Main Author: YAGER THOMAS A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.03.2016
• Subjects: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLIDMATERIALS OR FLUIDS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROMSOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATICTABLES OR JIGS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS; SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATICTABLES OR JIGS; TRANSPORTING

A method of separating material includes providing a mixture of a first material, such as a semiconductor, and a second material, such as an insulator or a different semiconductor. The mixture can be irradiated using a light source at a wavelength that causes the first material's conductivity to increase while leaving the second material's conductivity (substantially) unchanged. Placing the mixture in contact with a ground electrode discharges the first material but not the second material due to the difference in their conductivities. Applying an electric field to the discharged mixture separates the discharged first material from the second material.