Section: STEM · EngineeringDifficulty: Medium
Semiconductor
USUK
A material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator.
Definition
A semiconductor is a material, typically silicon or germanium, whose electrical conductivity lies between that of conductors (metals) and insulators. Its conductivity can be precisely controlled by adding impurity atoms (doping) to create n-type or p-type regions. The junction between n-type and p-type material forms the basis of diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits, making semiconductors the foundation of modern electronics.
Example
“The billions of silicon transistors in a modern microprocessor each act as tiny switches made from n-type and p-type semiconductor regions, switching on and off billions of times per second to process digital information.”
Synonyms
- semiconducting material
- silicon material
- doped material
Antonyms / Opposites
- conductor
- insulator
Images
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Related Terms
- Transistor
- Integrated Circuit
- Band Gap
- Doping