China has announced a significant advance in its quantum technology ambitions with the mass production of silicon-28, an ultra-pure isotope regarded as a foundational material for silicon-based quantum computers, tells South China Morning Post. According to Chinese authorities, engineers at a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation have achieved silicon-28 purity levels exceeding 99.99%, a benchmark considered necessary for developing high-performance quantum computing components.
Silicon-28 is particularly valuable because it contains no nuclear spin, reducing interference that can disrupt fragile quantum states. This property allows quantum bits, or qubits, to maintain coherence for longer periods, improving computational reliability and making the material attractive for scalable silicon quantum processors. The achievement is expected to support the development of domestic quantum chips and related hardware technologies.
Chinese researchers and industry officials describe the breakthrough as a strategic step toward reducing dependence on foreign suppliers of advanced quantum materials. Until now, access to highly enriched silicon-28 has largely been concentrated among a small number of international producers. Establishing a domestic supply chain gives China greater control over a critical resource that could influence future advances in quantum computing and advanced semiconductor research.
Beyond quantum computing, the isotope may find applications in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, precision navigation systems, and metrology, broadening its technological significance. The announcement also aligns with China’s broader effort to strengthen indigenous capabilities across strategic technologies, including quantum information science, semiconductors, and high-performance computing.
The development comes amid intensifying global competition in quantum technology. While challenges remain before fault-tolerant and commercially useful quantum computers become a reality, access to critical materials such as silicon-28 is considered an essential prerequisite. By moving from research-scale production to mass manufacturing, China has taken a notable step toward building a complete domestic ecosystem for silicon-based quantum computing and related next-generation technologies.