Semiconductors are very essential in technological advancements. They play a crucial in production of transistors. The doping technique has divided semiconductors into two basic types N-type and P-type.
Terms such as "Silicon Valley" and "silicon economy” clearly signifies that silicon is the heart of any electronic Industry. Semiconductors have a vast impact on our society. These lie at the heart of microprocessor, chips and transistor industry. Almost everything that has radio waves and are computerized, uses semiconductor. Most semiconductor chips and transistors are formed out of silicon.
What are Semiconductors?
Semiconductors are the compound which has a good electrical conductance. Their conductance depends on the current applied through the electrode or the intensity of ir-radiation such as X rays, infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV). Their electrical conductivity is intermediate between the insulator and a conductor. These are the basic component of various kinds of electronic circuit and device used in communications, Information technology and computers.
Classification of Semiconductor: Intrinsic and Extrinsic
Semiconductors come in a variety of designs and can be classified as per their dopant types. This article explains all differences in detail. Two basic kind of semiconductors are:
The pure form of semiconductor is called as intrinsic semiconductor. It can also be stated as semiconductor is which conduction band have equal number of holes and electron ration.
These have very minute forbidden energy gap. The energy available at room temperature is enough for the valence electrons to jump across the conduction band. Another characteristic feature is the Fermi level. Fermi Level lies in between the valence band and the conduction band. It refers to that level of energy where the probability of finding an electron is 0.5 or half.
In these semiconductors, the pure state is deliberately diluted by adding impurities into it. Such impurities are known as doping agents or dopant. A typical dopant could have a concentration of the order of 1 part in a hundred million parts. The materials chosen for doping are purposely chosen in such a manner that either they have 5 electrons or 3 electrons in their valence band. Accordingly, such dopants are known as pentavalent or trivalent dopants.
On the basis of dopant, these can be categorized as extrinsic N-type and P-type Silicon Wafers.
However, N-type and P-type Silicon Wafers are just ordinary in themselves as being just electrical conductors. But, these form a P-N junction after coming in contact with each other, you get very useful behaviors. The elemental semiconductors include carbon, germanium, selenium, silicon, antimony, boron, tellurium and arsenic. Silicon is the best-known out of all these, being present in almost all integrated circuits. Common semiconductor compounds include gallium indium antimonide, arsenide, and oxides of other metals. Of these, gallium arsenide is widely used in high-gain, weak-signal and low-noise, amplification devices.
Process of Oxide layer deposition in Silicon Wafers
CVD process has multiple application is semiconductor industry. This process is utilized in the design and fabrication of semiconductor devices.
Silicon Wafers Cost Considerations
Silicon finds great application in electronic equipments. Electrical circuitry including computer chips; microprocessors, transistors all have silicon Wafers as a foundation.
Benefits and Uses of Silicon
Silicon is a tetravalent, gray colored, brittle chemical element. It is the most abundant element in nature, all the mainstream micro chips and semiconductors are built on Silicon.
