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This review describes the efforts of several national metrology institutes to replace the present definition of the kilogram by a new one based on the mass of a given number of 12C atoms. This requires the determination of the Avogadro constant with a relative uncertainty no greater than 2 × 10−8. Since in previous attempts the most significant limiting factor has been the measurement of the average molar mass of the natural silicon, an international collaboration has been set up to produce a 5 kg single crystal with an isotope enrichment over 99.985%. The technological steps enabling the production of this high-purity 28Si crystal are also reported.

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