The magic word semiconductor is composed of two words-Semi and Conductor. Semi means not completely while conductor mean something, which can conduct electricity. Everybody is familiar with "Electricity". It is present everywhere; it runs many appliances in your home and outside the home like TV, Bulb, Freeze, and Microwave Oven etc. In simple terms, the current must past through wires so that the electricity can reach all these appliances. So a conductor is nothing but a material having ability to conduct this electricity. Semiconductors conduct electricity to some extent, less than the conductors, how much do you think? Well, it depends on the type of material or it's mixture and size. A semiconductor is a material that has intermediate conductivity between a conductor and an insulator. It means that it has unique physical properties somewhere in between a conductor like aluminum and an insulator like glass. In a process called doping, small amounts of impurities are added to pure semiconductors causing large changes in the conductivity of the material. Examples include silicon, the basic material used in the integrated circuit, and germanium, the semiconductor used for the first transistors.
Importance :
To understand the importance of semiconductors let's first understand the difference between electricity and electronics. Both are concerned with generating, transferring, and utilizing electrical energy. The chief difference is that electricity is concerned with using that electrical energy in power applications for heat, light, and motors while electronics is concerned with power control and communications applications such as electronic thermostats, electric motor speed control and radio. Engineering importance of semiconductors results from the fact that they can be conductors as well as insulators. Semiconductors are especially important because varying conditions like temperature and impurity content can easily alter their conductivity. The combination of different semiconductor types together generates devices with special electrical properties, which allow control of electrical signals. Semiconductors are employed in the manufacture of electronic devices and integrated circuits. Imagine life without electronic devices. There would be no radios, no TV's, no computers, no video games, and poor medical diagnostic equipment.
Importance :
To understand the importance of semiconductors let's first understand the difference between electricity and electronics. Both are concerned with generating, transferring, and utilizing electrical energy. The chief difference is that electricity is concerned with using that electrical energy in power applications for heat, light, and motors while electronics is concerned with power control and communications applications such as electronic thermostats, electric motor speed control and radio. Engineering importance of semiconductors results from the fact that they can be conductors as well as insulators. Semiconductors are especially important because varying conditions like temperature and impurity content can easily alter their conductivity. The combination of different semiconductor types together generates devices with special electrical properties, which allow control of electrical signals. Semiconductors are employed in the manufacture of electronic devices and integrated circuits. Imagine life without electronic devices. There would be no radios, no TV's, no computers, no video games, and poor medical diagnostic equipment.
For more details : Semiconductor
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