The invention discloses a method for preparing high-purity nanometer silicon. According to the method, calcium chloride or a calcium chloride-containing mixed fused salt is used as electrolyte, silicon dioxide or quartz is put in a metal current collector to serve as a cathode, graphite or an inert electrode is used as an anode, constant potential electrolysis is carried out under the condition that the electrolytic potential is controlled by adopting a reference electrode at a certain electrolysis temperature under the inert gas protection, thus obtaining the needed product, namely the high-purity nanometer silicon. The invention also discloses application of the high-purity nanometer silicon. The preparation method is high in electrolytic efficiency, the electrolytic efficiency is more than 70 percent, and the energy consumption is far lower than the energy consumption during silicon preparation through an industrial carbon heat method. In addition, lots of carbonic oxides are emitted in the process of preparing monatomic silicon through the industrial carbon heat method, and lots of charcoal is consumed. Moreover, the charcoal is not needed to serve as a reducing agent, an inert anode is adopted, and oxygen is discharged from the anode, so that zero emission is realized. Finally, the product obtained by the method is high in purity.