SEMI CONDUCTER

SEMI CONDUCTORs

Semiconductor is a material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator.

common semiconductor materials are silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide. These materials are used to make transistors, which are the basic building blocks of electronic circuits. Transistors can be used to amplify or switch electronic signals

The History of Semiconductors

The history of semiconductors can be traced back to the late 1800s, when scientists began studying the electrical properties of materials. At that time, the only materials known to have electrical conductivity were metals and graphite.

The first semiconductor device was the crystal detector, which was invented by Ferdinand Braun, a German physicist, in 1874. The crystal detector was made from a natural mineral called galena and was used in early radio receivers.

In 1874, American physicist Edwin Hall discovered the Hall effect, which is the generation of a voltage perpendicular to a current flowing in a conductor. This effect led to the development of semiconductors as it was discovered that certain materials exhibited similar effects.


In the 1930s, researchers discovered that silicon and germanium had semiconducting properties. However, it wasn't until after World War II that semiconductors began to be widely used in electronic devices.

In 1947, American physicists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley invented the transistor at Bell Labs. The transistor is a semiconductor device that amplifies or switches electronic signals, and it replaced the bulky and inefficient vacuum tubes that were used in early electronics.

The development of the transistor sparked a revolution in electronics, leading to the miniaturization of electronic devices and the creation of the modern computer. In the 1960s, the integrated circuit was invented, which allowed multiple transistors to be placed on a single piece of silicon, further increasing the capabilities of electronic devices.



Types of Semiconductors:

There are two main types of semiconductors:

*Intrinsic

*Extrinsic

Intrinsic semiconductors are pure materials that have no impurities. Extrinsic semiconductors, on the other hand, have impurities intentionally added to them to alter their properties.

Intrinsic semiconductors:

Intrinsic semiconductors are made up of a single type of element, such as silicon or germanium. At room temperature, they have very few free electrons, so their conductivity is low. However, if energy is applied to the semiconductor, such as heat or light, it can excite electrons, creating free electron-hole pairs. This process is known as doping.

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Extrinsic semiconductors:

Extrinsic semiconductors have impurities intentionally added to them to increase their conductivity. This process is called doping. There are two types of extrinsic semiconductors: N-type and P-type.

N-type semiconductors have impurities added that create extra electrons, which are free to move around in the semiconductor. This makes the semiconductor more conductive.

P-type semiconductors have impurities added that create electron holes, which are positively charged. These holes are also free to move around in the semiconductor, making it more conductive.

Applications of Semiconductors:

Semiconductors have a wide range of applications, including:

Electronic devices: Semiconductors are used in electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, televisions, and other consumer electronics. They are also used in industrial electronics, such as control systems for manufacturing processes.


Solar cells: Semiconductors are used in solar cells to convert sunlight into electrical energy. The most commonly used material for solar cells is silicon.


Lighting: Semiconductors are used in lighting applications such as LED lights. LEDs are more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent light bulbs, and they last longer.


Transistors: Semiconductors are the basis for transistors, which are used to amplify or switch electronic signals. Transistors are used in a wide range of electronic devices, from small radios to large supercomputers.




The Gaint player in manufacturor of semiconductors is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). TSMC is a Taiwanese semiconductor foundry that produces semiconductors for a variety of customers, including Apple, Qualcomm, and Nvidia.

TSMC was founded in 1987 and has grown to become the world's largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry. The company is known for its advanced manufacturing processes, with its latest 5-nanometer (nm) technology being used to produce the latest generation of smartphone and computer chips.

Other major semiconductor manufacturers include Samsung Electronics, Intel Corporation, and SK Hynix. These companies produce a wide range of semiconductors, from memory chips to microprocessors, and are critical to the functioning of the global technology industry.

Conclusion:
semiconductors are a critical component in modern electronics. They have revolutionized the way we communicate, work, and live our daily lives. From the computers we use to the lights we turn on, semiconductors have made our lives easier and more convenient. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that semiconductors will continue to play an essential role in shaping our future.