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Silane-- SiH4-- is not explosive in air -normally--it is pyrophoric. That means that it burns when exposed to air--still not a pleasant prospect.

You have to work at getting it to explode; such as allowing silane to accumulate with out exposing it to oxygen.

Silane has been in use in the semiconductor industry for over 40 years. I have seen a silane fire from an improperly connected gas cylinder. I have seen a silane "explosion " from un-reacted silane contained in a fume vent line that was devoid of air due to a nitrogen purge of the vent line acting as a muffle and keeping the gas from spontaneously combusting until it was vented out of the exhaust duct.

I have worked directly with silane in several different process applications and as long as you understand its potentil then you take the proper precautions you don't have catastrophic incidents.

If you know how to handle and use silane there is no problem.

If you are not technically astute and take the proper precautions then there will be problems.

If the general public understood what chemicals are used to make an integrated circuit the industry would be on a par with nuclear power.There are some really scary chemicals and materials used in the manufacture of semiconductor circuits.

Lots of hype in this article.