A semiconductor is a material that can connect and conduct electricity and heat. They are made of materials like carbon, silicon, germanium, and silicon-germanium, as well as other materials like gallium arsenide and indium phosphide as well as other rare earth metals. Semiconductors are found in computer chips, solar energy cells and LED lights.
Semiconductors are created by doping a piece of pure crystal with another element. Doping adds impurities to the crystal structure which changes its electrical properties. The most common dopants are phosphorus and boron. Semiconductors can be either n-type or p-type depending on which element is used for doping.
N-type semiconductors have extra electrons while p-type semiconductors have “holes” where electrons should be.
When two pieces of differently doped semiconductor are placed next to each other they form what is called a P-N junction. When this happens, the free electrons from the (N) Negative side flow over to the (P) Positive side. This creates an electric field across the junction.
Semiconductors have revolutionized the way we use technology. They are smaller, faster and more efficient than traditional electronic components. They can also handle more complex tasks than ever before possible. This has led to the development of smaller, more powerful devices like smartphones and tablets.