Element Dossier

Silicon (Si)

Silicon is foundational to semiconductors, solar power, electronics, sensors, and digital infrastructure.

Core
Selected Element

Silicon

Symbol: Si · Atomic Number: 14 · Metalloid

Si
Core

Silicon is foundational to semiconductors, solar power, electronics, sensors, and digital infrastructure.

Overall
85/100
Confidence
Medium
Updated
2026-06

Element Scorecard

Modeled intelligence scores. Source-backed methodology.

85
High
Civilization Impact96/100
Supply-Chain Risk60/100
Strategic Value92/100
Substitution Difficulty92/100
Future Relevance94/100

Industry Exposure

Industries and applications connected to Silicon.

Industries

SemiconductorsAI InfrastructureEnergyTelecomDefense

Key Uses

  • Integrated circuits
  • Solar cells
  • Sensors
  • Power electronics

Supply Chain Flow: Silicon

Simplified intelligence flow for source, processing, refining, manufacturing, and end use.

Source
  • Global
Processing
  • China
  • United States
  • Europe
  • Asia
Refining
  • Global
Manufacturing
  • Taiwan
  • South Korea
  • United States
  • Japan
  • Europe
End Use
  • Chips
  • Solar
  • Electronics
  • AI infrastructure

Substitution Analysis

Logic chips
High
Compound semiconductors for specific uses

Not a broad replacement

Scoring Reasoning

Silicon scores high because modern computing and solar infrastructure depend on it.

Confidence: MediumLast updated: 2026-06

Sources

Public source base used for modeled intelligence scoring.