China reaches mass production of key isotope in quantum computing, Beijing says

China has achieved a breakthrough in production of an ultra-pure form of silicon, a critical material needed to build silicon-based quantum computers, as Beijing accelerates its drive to cut reliance on foreign technology in strategic areas.State-owned nuclear giant China-national-nuclear-corporation" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="136190" data-entity-type="organization">China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said on Monday that one of its research institutes had successfully mass-produced a high-purity Silicon-28 isotope with an isotopic abundance above 99.99 per cent. The achievement marked China’s first independent, large-scale production of the material, it said.The breakthrough helps plug a long-standing gap in China’s quantum technology supply chain. Previously, production capabilities for the Silicon-28 isotope were concentrated among a small group of overseas players in Russia, Europe and US-linked supply chains.