What is semiconductor and its uses?
semiconductor, any of a class of crystalline solids intermediate in electrical conductivity between a conductor and an insulator. Semiconductors are employed in the manufacture of various kinds of electronic devices, including diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits.
What are N and P type semiconductor?
When a trivalent impurity is added, the semiconductor is termed as P-type whereas it is called N-type if the pentavalent impurity is added. Impurities such as Arsenic, Antimony, Phosphorous and Bismuth (elements having five valence electrons) are added in N-type semiconductors.
What is semiconductor example?
Some examples of semiconductors are silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, and elements near the so-called “metalloid staircase” on the periodic table. After silicon, gallium arsenide is the second-most common semiconductor and is used in laser diodes, solar cells, microwave-frequency integrated circuits, and others.
What are majority and minority carriers?
The majority charge carriers carry most of the electric charge or electric current in the semiconductor. The charge carriers that are present in small quantity are called minority charge carriers. The minority charge carriers carry very small amount of electric charge or electric current in the semiconductor.
What are semiconductors and what do they do?
Silicon, a semiconductor, is used to fabricate computer chips. Dozens or even hundreds of chips are produced at once on a silicon wafer like the one above. The chips are then cut apart and installed in computers and other electronic devices.
What is a semiconductor and what does it do?
Semiconductors are used in many electrical circuits because we can control the flow of electrons in this material, for example, with a controlling current. Semiconductors are also used for other special properties. In fact, a solar cell is made of semiconductors which are sensitive to light energy.
What does semiconductor mean in science?
Definition of semiconductor. : any of a class of solids (such as germanium or silicon) whose electrical conductivity is between that of a conductor and that of an insulator in being nearly as great as that of a metal at high temperatures and nearly absent at low temperatures.
What are the characteristics of semiconductors?
Resistivity: 10 -5 to 10 6 Ωm