SEMICONDUCTOR

SEMICONDUCTOR

Subject: Science & technology

Context: A protracted shortage of inputs, especially semiconductor chips, has made India-based car manufactures and premium bike makers curtail production across categories.

Concept:

• Semiconductors are the materials which have a conductivity between conductors (generally metals) and non-conductors or insulators (such as ceramics).
• Semiconductors can be compounds such as gallium arsenide or pure elements, such as germanium or silicon. .
• Semiconductors like Gallium arsenide, germanium, and silicon are some of the most commonly used semiconductors.
• Silicon is used in electronic circuit fabrication and gallium arsenide is used in solar cells, laser diodes, etc.

Properties of Semiconductors:

• Semiconductor acts like an insulator at Zero Kelvin. On increasing the temperature, it works as a conductor.
• Due to their exceptional electrical properties, semiconductors can be modified by doping to make semiconductor devices suitable for energy conversion, switches, and amplifiers.
• Lesser power losses.
• Semiconductors are smaller in size and possess less weight.
• Their resistivity is higher than conductors but lesser than insulators.
• The resistance of semiconductor materials decreases with the increase in temperature and vice-versa.

Uses of Semiconductors

• Temperature sensors are made with semiconductor devices.
• They are used in 3D printing machines
• Used in microchips and self-driving cars
• Used in calculators, solar plates, computers and other electronic devices.
• Transistor and MOSFET used as a switch in Electrical Circuits are manufactured using the semiconductors.
• The physical and chemical properties of semiconductors make them capable of designing technological wonders like microchips, transistors, LEDs, solar cells, etc.
• The microprocessor used for controlling the operation of space vehicles, trains, robots, etc is made up of transistors and other controlling devices which are manufactured by semiconductor materials.