A method and system for precipitating a solid using molten oxide electrolysis are presented. Using an electrical current for electrolysis in a first vessel, an oxide material is heated to form a liquid cathode. The first vessel also includes a corresponding anode. A portion of the liquid cathode is received into a second vessel that is separated from the first vessel by a conduit. The portion of the liquid cathode is allowed to cool. Precipitate of the cooled liquid cathode may then be collected in the second vessel. The precipitate may be a metal or metalloid, such as silicon. The method and system allow for continuous processing for production of a precipitate material, in contrast to batch processing of other methods or systems. For example, precipitate may be harvested from the second vessel while electrolysis is continuously performed in the first vessel.

A method and system for precipitating a solid using molten oxide electrolysis are presented. Using an electrical current for electrolysis in a first vessel, an oxide material is heated to form a liquid cathode. The first vessel also includes a corresponding anode. A portion of the liquid cathode is received into a second vessel that is separated from the first vessel by a conduit. The portion of the liquid cathode is allowed to cool. Precipitate of the cooled liquid cathode may then be collected in the second vessel. The precipitate may be a metal or metalloid, such as silicon. The method and system allow for continuous processing for production of a precipitate material, in contrast to batch processing of other methods or systems. For example, precipitate may be harvested from the second vessel while electrolysis is continuously performed in the first vessel.

Described herein are methods for producing silicon-containing structures using electrochemically generated solutions and chemical reduction of components in such solutions. For example, a cathode solution and an anode solution may be provided a reactor with the cathode solution comprising a cathode solution solvent, a cathode solution salt, and a redox mediator and with the anode solution comprising an anode solution solvent and an anode solution salt. A voltage is then applied between the cathode and anode thereby converting the redox mediator into a reducing agent forming a charged cathode solution. The method may proceed with adding a silicon-containing precursor to the charged cathode solution such that the reducing agent reacts with the silicon-containing precursor and forms silicon-containing structures and a precursor-mixture salt in the precursor mixture. The redox mediator is released into the precursor mixture during this operation. The method proceeds with separating the silicon-containing structures from the precursor mixture.

Described herein are methods for producing silicon-containing structures using electrochemically generated solutions and chemical reduction of components in such solutions. For example, a cathode solution and an anode solution may be provided a reactor with the cathode solution comprising a cathode solution solvent, a cathode solution salt, and a redox mediator and with the anode solution comprising an anode solution solvent and an anode solution salt. A voltage is then applied between the cathode and anode thereby converting the redox mediator into a reducing agent forming a charged cathode solution. The method may proceed with adding a silicon-containing precursor to the charged cathode solution such that the reducing agent reacts with the silicon-containing precursor and forms silicon-containing structures and a precursor-mixture salt in the precursor mixture. The redox mediator is released into the precursor mixture during this operation. The method proceeds with separating the silicon-containing structures from the precursor mixture.