Patent ID: 8551438

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula Si n H 2n+2 in which n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 4, the process comprising mixing CO 2 with water to produce an a aqueous solution comprising dissolved CO 2 , reacting at least one silicide or silicon alloy in powder form and having a formula M 1 x M 2 y Si z , in which M 1 is a reducing metal; M 2 is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal; x, y, and z vary from 0 to 1; z being other than 0; and a sum of x+y being other than 0; with the aqueous solution comprising dissolved CO 2 , said solution being or not being saturated with CO 2 at a temperature and pressure of the reaction.