Chennai Startup Evoxia Develops Hydrogen Plasma Technology for Indigenous Silicon Manufacturing

Chennai-based deep-tech startup Evoxia Labs India Private Limited is developing an innovative hydrogen plasma-based technology to produce high-purity silicon with substantially lower energy consumption and carbon emissions. The indigenous manufacturing process aims to strengthen India’s domestic supply of silicon, a critical raw material for solar photovoltaic cells and semiconductor manufacturing.

Founded in 2024 by Nirmala Chordia and Harsh Chordia, Evoxia is developing an alternative to conventional silicon production using a proprietary reduction process. The company reports achieving 99.9999% silicon purity during laboratory validation, marking progress towards the production of materials required by India’s expanding solar and electronics industries.

Hydrogen Plasma Technology Offers an Alternative to Conventional Silicon Production

Conventional silicon manufacturing involves energy-intensive industrial processes that convert silica into elemental silicon. Further purification is necessary to produce the high-purity polysilicon required for solar cells and semiconductor applications.

Evoxia is developing a process that uses hydrogen plasma to reduce silica into silicon. Plasma is a highly energised state of matter containing electrically charged particles that can facilitate chemical reactions under controlled conditions.

The company has developed a specialised reactor for the reduction process, incorporating an internally designed geometry and nozzle configuration. Its approach aims to improve energy efficiency while reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional manufacturing.

According to Evoxia’s official technology information, its proprietary process is designed to reduce energy consumption and manufacturing emissions compared with conventional silicon production methods.

The company reports that its technology has reached Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL 4), indicating laboratory validation of the underlying process.

Evoxia Reports 99.9999% Silicon Purity in Laboratory Testing

An important milestone in Evoxia’s development is its reported achievement of 6N-purity silicon, equivalent to 99.9999% purity.

The company states that Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) testing has confirmed this purity level. ICP-MS is an analytical technique capable of detecting trace concentrations of metallic and other elemental impurities in materials.

Silicon purity is particularly important in photovoltaic and semiconductor manufacturing because impurities can affect the electrical properties and performance of finished products.

Solar-grade polysilicon and semiconductor-grade silicon have different purity requirements. Manufacturing silicon suitable for advanced microelectronics generally requires additional purification and stringent control over impurities.

Evoxia is working towards progressively higher purity levels to serve both industries, with semiconductor-grade material forming part of its longer-term development programme.

Technology Targets Lower Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions

Evoxia identifies energy efficiency as a major advantage of its proprietary silicon reduction technology.

According to the company’s published technical claims, conventional Siemens-process manufacturing can require approximately 100–110 kilowatt-hours of electricity per kilogram of silicon. Evoxia reports substantially lower energy requirements for its alternative process.

The startup also claims that its technology can reduce manufacturing-related greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 95% compared with conventional methods.

Its approach includes reducing dependence on conventional chemical processing routes and recovering value from industrial by-products.

These performance figures represent the company’s reported technology targets and laboratory-stage assessments. They provide a basis for evaluating the potential advantages of the process as Evoxia advances towards commercial manufacturing.

Agricultural Residues Could Support Domestic Silicon Production

Evoxia’s research also explores the use of agricultural residues as an alternative source of silicon-bearing materials.

Rice husk and rice husk ash contain silica that can be processed for industrial applications. India produces substantial quantities of rice-processing residues, creating opportunities to develop higher-value materials from agricultural by-products.

The company identifies agricultural waste utilisation as part of its strategy for developing lower-emission photovoltaic and semiconductor materials.

Converting suitable agricultural residues into high-purity industrial feedstock could help support resource efficiency while creating additional value within agricultural supply chains.

This approach also connects advanced materials manufacturing with India’s broader efforts to encourage circular-economy technologies and sustainable industrial production.

Indigenous Silicon Manufacturing Supports India’s Solar and Semiconductor Industries

High-purity silicon is a foundational material for two strategically important industries: solar energy and semiconductor manufacturing.

Solar photovoltaic cells commonly use crystalline silicon wafers to convert sunlight into electricity. Semiconductor manufacturers use highly purified silicon to produce integrated circuits found in computers, communication equipment, automobiles and industrial electronic systems.

India has significantly expanded its solar module manufacturing capabilities and is developing a broader semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

These industries require reliable supplies of specialised materials, making domestic silicon production an important area for technological development.

Evoxia aims to contribute to this supply chain by developing an indigenous process for manufacturing high-purity silicon in India.

The company’s technology could provide an alternative production route for manufacturers seeking domestically produced silicon feedstock.

Evoxia Advances Research and Commercialisation of High-Purity Silicon

Evoxia is continuing to develop its proprietary reactor technology, material purification processes and manufacturing capabilities.

The company has received support from startup incubation and innovation programmes, including PIEDS BITS Pilani, AIC ISB Mohali, Deshpande Startups, IKP Knowledge Park and IIT Ropar’s AWaDH Technology Innovation Hub.

These initiatives provide access to entrepreneurship support, technical expertise and innovation networks that help research-intensive startups advance their technologies.

Evoxia’s development strategy focuses on validating its silicon manufacturing process, improving material purity and preparing the technology for industrial applications.

Its longer-term plans include producing materials suitable for semiconductor manufacturing, extending the technology’s potential applications beyond the solar industry.

Indian Deep-Tech Innovation Strengthens Advanced Materials Manufacturing

Evoxia’s hydrogen plasma technology represents an emerging Indian approach to one of the most energy-intensive stages of advanced materials manufacturing.

By combining proprietary reactor engineering, plasma-based processing and high-purity material production, the Chennai startup is developing capabilities relevant to solar photovoltaics and semiconductor supply chains.

The company’s progress demonstrates the growing participation of Indian deep-tech startups in developing foundational industrial technologies rather than concentrating exclusively on finished electronic products.

Through continued research and commercialisation, Evoxia is contributing to India’s efforts to build indigenous capabilities in high-purity silicon production, advanced materials engineering and sustainable manufacturing.

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References

1. Evoxia Labs India Private Limited — Official Company Website. Company profile, technology development and high-purity silicon manufacturing.
   https://evoxia.in/
2. Evoxia — Technology. Official information on proprietary silicon reduction technology, TRL 4 validation and reported 6N silicon purity.
   https://evoxia.in/technology/
3. Evoxia — Sustainability. Official information on energy efficiency, emissions reduction and sustainable silicon manufacturing.
   https://evoxia.in/sustainability/
4. Evoxia — Official Company Profile and Updates. Incubation support, research activities and advanced materials development.
   https://www.linkedin.com/company/evoxia-in/
5. Startup Mahakumbh 2025 — Official Exhibitor Directory. Evoxia Labs India Private Limited, company background and agricultural-residue technology development.
   https://startupmahakumbh.org/exhibitor_directory/SM_2025_Exhibitor_Directory.pdf

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