2006-12-28 14:57:28 · 6 answers · asked by NARENDER J 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
There's a question here someplace, I know there is.
"about semiconductors" is way too broad of a question - but I'll give it a try:
Pure silicone is a crystal and a good insulator (non-conductor).
When the pure silicone is intentionally "doped" with phosphorus, it retains its crystalline structure but with extra electrons - this increase in the electron density makes the material an N type semiconductor.
When boron is added to pure silicone, again, the crystal structure is maintained, but this time there's a "hole" (missing electron) where the silicone atom has been displaced by the boron.
This gives the semiconducting material an electron deficiency - or a P type semiconductor.
When the P and N type semiconductors are put together, a voltage potential of approximately 0.6 volts appears at the junction - and the device is known as a diode or rectifier. It functions as a type of one way valve for controlling the flow of electricity or rectifying AC voltage to DC voltage. Transistors use three semiconductors and two junctions - a PNP or NPN configuration.
That pretty much is it in a nut shell.
2006-12-28 15:16:17 · answer #1 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Semi conductors are not metals, not salts, kind of a mix. They are good conductors of electricity, usually in most types of solid state amplifiers, transistors, diodes, SCRs, etc. Because of their makeup (being not a metal and not a salt) they usually need another "source" gating them or turning them on or off. They make great electronic switches, and by "doping" them, they can be extremely efficient (like how small they are now in your computer.)
I hope this helped, you didn't have too much in your question :-(
2006-12-28 23:04:08 · answer #2 · answered by kaliroadrager 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
semiconductors are solid materials whose ability to conduct electricity can be controlled, put simply. silicon is one such example and is therefore widely used in computer chips.
2006-12-28 23:03:48 · answer #3 · answered by James W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor
2006-12-28 23:04:47 · answer #4 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its all in the name. They are SEMI conductors. That is, they can either conduct or insulate depending on the applied voltage.
2006-12-29 00:45:01 · answer #5 · answered by Jud R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell us what about them
2006-12-28 22:59:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋