This. paper presents the preliminary results obtained in the development of large area p-i-n diodes to be used as particles and radiatiorn detectors in high-energy physics experiments. Large area room-temperature operated silicon detectors widen the potential field of application for solid state detectors in high-energy physics. Large equipments, like electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters, could be built, in the near future, using large active areas of silicon to the place of more traditional detectors, like scintilators, gas chambers, crogenic and room temperature liquids.