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Syllabus Dot Point
semiconductors such as transistors, zener diodes, light emitting diodes and laser diodes
– uses in telecommunications
A substance that can conduct electricity is called the conductor and a substance that cannot conduct electricity is known as the insulator. Semiconductors have properties that sit between the conductor and insulator. A transistors, zener diodes, light emitting diodes and laser diodes are all made from semiconductors.
What is the difference between N-type and P-type semiconductors?
An N-type semiconductor carries current mainly in the form of negatively charged electrons similar to the conduction of current in a wire. A P-type semiconductor carries current predominantly as electron deficiencies called holes. A hole has a positive electric charge, equal and opposite to the charge on an electron.
Integrated circuits like microchips are composed of semiconductor materials.
Semiconductor Device Materials
The silicon (Si) is most widely used material in semiconductor devices. It’s having lower raw material cost and relatively simple process. Its useful temperature range makes it currently the best compromise among the various competing materials.
Germanium (Ge) was a widely used in early semiconductor material, but its thermal sensitivity makes less useful than silicon. Nowadays, germanium is often alloyed with (Si) silicon for use in very-high-speed SiGe devices; IBM is a main producer of such devices.
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