How Semiconductors Work?
The truth is, a semiconductor is not an invention, rather one
invented. Seems difficult tounderstand, isnt it? Well, there are
too many semiconductor devices available in the markettoday. The
breakthrough of semiconductor materials has paved the way for
tremendous andimportant advancements in the field of electronics.
The miniaturization of computer parts andcomputers, semiconductors
are needed. Aside from that, semiconductors are required for
themanufacturing of electronic parts like transistors, diodes, and
photovoltaic cells.
Uncovering Semiconductors Materials
Semiconductor materials include the elements like the germanium,
and silicon, and thecompounds lead sulfide, indium phosphide or
gallium arsenide. There are a lot ofsemiconductors, even certain
plastics can be made semiconductors, enabling plastic
light-emitting diodes, which are very flexible, and can be designed
to any desired shape.Semiconductors have had a colossal impact on
the society. You will be able to discoversemiconductors at the core
of transistors and microprocessor chips. Anything that's radiowaves
or computerized depends on semiconductors. These days, most
transistors andsemiconductor chips are created with silicon.
If you want to understand how semiconductors work, the simplest
semiconductor tool is thediode, and is the best initial point. Upon
understanding the art of diode, you'll learn what asemiconductor is
all about, how a diode can be created, and how doping works. But
beforeanything else, it is important to understand the essence of
silicon. One very important elementis the silicon-- for example, it
is the major element in sand and quartz.
Silicon, germanium and Carbon have a unique property in their
electronic structure -- each has4 electrons in its outer orbital.
This enables them to form nice crystals. The 4 electrons will
formthe perfect covalent bonds with 4 neighboring atoms, which
creates a lattice. In the carbon, it isunderstandable that
crystalline will form as a diamond. As for the silicon, silvery is
thecrystalline form, which is a metallic-looking substance. Metals
have a tendency to be goodconductors of electricity since they
usually have "free electrons" that can move easily
betweenelectricity and atoms, and involves the flow of electrons.
The outer electrons in a silicon crystalare involved in perfect
covalent bonds, so they can't move around. The insulator is a
puresilicon crystal -- little electricity will flow through it.
Doping is the measure that changes theprocess.
What Is Electron Doping?
In their undoped form, semiconductors are electrical insulators
that don't insulate efficiently.They form a crystal pattern where
each electron has a definite place. Most semiconductormaterials
have 4 valence electrons, 4 electrons in the outer shell. By
putting 2% of atoms with 5valence electrons like the arsenic in
with a 4 valence electron semiconductor like the silicon. To
