SEMICONDUCTOR
- May 24, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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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.