Etymology
The word "semiconductor" comes from the Latin word "semi," meaning "half," and the English word "conductor," meaning "a material that allows electricity to pass through it."
Meaning and Origin
A semiconductor is a material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and that of an insulator. Semiconductors have a resistivity that is typically between 10^-6 and 10^8 ohm-meters, which is significantly higher than that of conductors (typically less than 10^-6 ohm-meters) and lower than that of insulators (typically greater than 10^12 ohm-meters).
The properties of semiconductors are determined by their atomic structure and the presence of impurities and defects. Semiconductors are typically composed of elements from Group IV of the periodic table, such as silicon and germanium. In their pure form, these materials have a crystalline structure with each atom covalently bonded to four neighboring atoms. This structure creates a regular lattice of alternating positive and negative charges, which prevents the flow of electricity.
However, when impurities or defects are introduced into the semiconductor, the regular lattice is disrupted and the electrical properties of the material change. Impurities can either be atoms with different valencies than the host atoms, or they can be atoms that have lost or gained electrons. Defects can be created by vacancies in the crystal lattice, or by the presence of dislocations or grain boundaries.
The presence of impurities and defects creates energy levels within the semiconductor's band gap, which is the energy difference between the valence band and the conduction band. When an electron gains enough energy to move into the conduction band, it becomes free to move through the semiconductor and contribute to electrical conduction.
Semiconductors are used in a wide range of electronic devices, including transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, and solar cells. The unique properties of semiconductors allow these devices to control the flow of electricity in a variety of ways, which makes them essential for modern electronics.
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