China Achieves 99.99% Silicon-28 Mass Production for Quantum Chips
Updated
Updated · TV BRICS (Eng) · Jun 20
China Achieves 99.99% Silicon-28 Mass Production for Quantum Chips
1 articles · Updated · TV BRICS (Eng) · Jun 20
Summary
China said it has independently moved silicon-28 from lab research to mass production, reaching purity above 99.99% in a milestone for silicon-based quantum chips.
Silicon-28 is prized for suppressing environmental noise in quantum systems, and Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Yu Dapeng said the breakthrough opens new possibilities for scalable qubit control.
The China National Nuclear Corporation said the material should also support advanced semiconductor manufacturing, high-precision navigation and measurement technologies beyond quantum computing.
Researchers now plan to broaden stable-isotope output for uses spanning nuclear energy, medicine, aerospace, particle physics and deep-space exploration; the institute says it can already produce 26 isotopes across 12 elements.
With China mass-producing 'perfect silicon,' has the quantum race become a battle over controlling fundamental materials?
Beyond silicon-28, what is the next critical material bottleneck that will decide the future of computing and AI?
China Achieves 99.99% Pure Silicon-28 Mass Production: A Quantum Computing Game-Changer and Geopolitical Shift
Overview
In June 2026, China announced a major breakthrough by independently mass producing high-purity silicon-28, a material essential for advanced quantum computing. This achievement, led by CNNC and RIPCENI, marks a significant step in establishing China's capabilities in quantum materials. The availability of ultra-pure silicon-28 is crucial for building fault-tolerant quantum computers, which require millions of stable, low-error qubits. By controlling its own supply of this vital material, China addresses a key bottleneck in global quantum hardware development, strengthens its domestic quantum programs, reduces reliance on external sources, and accelerates its research and development in this strategic field.