11 Useful Semiconductors Examples (Read This First)

An authentic semiconductor is not too much workable and neither it is a very good conductor or nor good insulator. Let us see the examples of the useful semiconductor.

The examples of useful semiconductors are listed below,

Aluminium arsenide
Selenium
Indium
Cadmium
Germanium
Cadmium selenide
Copper oxide
MOSFET
Carbon
Zinc telluride
Sulfur

Aluminium arsenide

Aluminium arsenide is p type semiconductor with the chemical formula AIAs. The band gap for this type of the semiconductor is 2.12 eV. Molar mass for the aluminium is 1.1.94 gram per mole with the density 3.72 gram per cubic centimeter. Thermal conductivity for this semiconductor is 0.9 W/ cm.k.

Aluminium arsenide is a III –V mixture semiconductor ingredient. In normal state the colour of this semiconductor is orange.

Selenium

Selenium is a non metal stuff. The atomic number for this element is 34 with atomic weight 78.96. At the temperature of 20 degrees selenium stays at solid state. Hexagonal structure is shown in this semiconductor element. Selenium can produce strong acidic oxide form.

Selenium is derived as the symbol of Se. Selenium consider as a good conductor in respect of electricity in the availability of the light. This appearance is known as photoconductivity. Seven isotopes present in the selenium among them five isotopes are, ⁷⁴Se, ⁷⁶Se,⁷⁷Se,⁷⁸Se and ⁸⁰Se.

Indium

Indium electronic configuration is, [Kr] 4d¹⁰5s²5p¹. Indium pointed as a p shell stuff, because the last electron for this semiconductor element is enters to the subshell of the p, with atomic number is 49 in the 5^th periodic table as the group of the 13.

When indium standing in solid position at that time temperature standing at 20 degree centigrade. Cultivated fields generate more indium compare to the non – cultivated fields. Indium is a material which is not easily available in the nature. Atomic mass for the indium is 114.85 gram per mole.

Cadmium

Cadmium is an element which is present in the earth’s crust. In the nature cadmium can be view as a mineral mixture with other stuff such as sulfur, oxygen or chlorine. It is a soft metal with atomic number 48. With the help of Cd symbol cadmium is identified.

The relative atomic mass for the cadmium is 112.414. At the room temperature this semiconductor stays at solid situation. Cadmiums are uses in various purposes such as, metal coating, pigments, batteries and many more. The electron configuration for this semiconductor stuff is, [Kr] 4d¹⁰5s².

Cadmium selenide

Cadmium selenide molecular formula is CdSe with the molecular weight 191.38. The molar mass of the cadmium selenide is 191.386 gram per mole with density 5.81 gram per cubic centimeter. When this semiconductor element stays at room temperature at that time the band gap will be 1.74 eV.

Cadmium selenide is an n type semiconductor. In the nanotech application this element is used in a wide range. Its nano-sized particles are especially useful as an ingredient of photocatalysts.

Copper oxide

Copper oxide is also termed as, cuprous oxide. The chemical formula for the inorganic compound copper oxide is Cu₂O. The nature of the copper oxide is covalent type. Molecular weight for the copper oxide is 143.09 gram per mole with the density 6 gram per cubic centimeter.

Another chemical names are used for the copper oxide are, Cuprous oxide, Red Cu₂o and Dicopper oxide. Boiling point and melting point for this compound respective are, 1800 degree centigrade and 1232 degree centigrade.

MOSFET

MOSFET full form is Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. MOSFET is the most used type of transistor in modern days. The purpose of this type of stuff is to control the conductivity or the flow of the electricity.

MOSFET has three terminal devices such as, gate (G), sources (S) and drain (D) terminals. When voltage is applied to the gate, an electrical field is produce that changes width of the channel region, where the electrons can be flow.

Carbon

Carbon is a chemical ingredient with the atomic number 6. In the normal room temperature carbon stays at solid state. Carbon identified with the symbol of C. This element belongs to the 14^th to the periodic table with the atomic mass 12.01 gram per mole.

The electron configuration for the carbon is [He] 2s²2p². Carbon makes up only about 0.025 percent crust of the earth. Carbon is the ingredient which is chemical backbone of the earth’s life.

Zinc telluride

Zinc telluride is p type semiconductor. It is a binary chemical stuff with the chemical formula of ZnTe. The bang gap for this element is 2.26 eV. The crystal design of this semiconductor is cubic just like diamond and sphalerite.

Molecular weight for zinc telluride is 193 with density 6.34 gram per cubic centimeter. Zinc telluride is used to enhance the functions of the semiconductor devices, such as, laser diodes, components of microwave generator solar cells.

Sulfur

In the normal temperature the color of the sulfur is bright yellow and state is solid. Electron configuration for the sulfur is [Ne] 3s²3p⁴. It is the 10^th most abundant element and found in ocean, plant and animal life, crust of the earth, meteorites.

In the drawing, as a solid state, sulfur is a characteristic lemon yellow; when burned, sulfur melts into a blood-red liquid and emits a blue flame.

Semiconductor is a solid state chemical ingredient in propulsion electricity under particular situations. Let us discuss further in this article in which way the semiconductors are influenced in our modern lives.

Uses of good conductors in real life

Conductor is a substance which is allows flowing electricity through it. Let us evaluate the uses of good conductors in our real life.

Engines of motor vehicles are made with iron thus the heat can be conducted away.
In the thermometer mercury is used as a conductor to receive the heat from a body.
Frying pans are made by aluminum metal thus heat can be received quickly and the cooking process will be speedy.

In a conductor, electrical charges are carried by the ions or electrons. When voltage is applied on a matter that time ions or electrons are traveled freely from one atom to another atom.

Uses of good semiconductors in real life

When the temperature of a body stands at zero Kelvin at that time semiconductor behave like as an insulator. Let us talk about the uses of good semiconductors.

In various digital consumer items in our daily life such as, washing machine, digital cameras, smart phones or mobile phones, LED bulbs, refrigerators semiconductors are widely used.
In the air conditioning system temperature sensors are used which are made with the help of semiconductors.

In the rice cookers semiconductors are present and rice is can be make perfectly just because of semiconductors are so preciously control the temperature of the rice cooker.

Importance of semiconductors

Under some circumference and situation semiconductor type materials can conduct electricity. Let us analyze the importance of semiconductor below,

Life period for the semiconductor are more.
While semiconductor are used in many process at that time noise are not created.
Devices made with semiconductor are thrust proof.
Very little amount of input is required to run the semiconductor appliances.
Highly portable
Space saver due to small size.

Resistivity range of the semiconductor in between the 10^-5 to 10^-7 Ωm and thermal conductivity for the semiconductor is 10⁵ to 10^-6 watts per meter per Kelvin.

What metals are considered as semiconductors?

Frequency ranges of operation for the semiconductor devices are low. Let us derive the metals which are considered as semiconductor.

The metals which are considered as semiconductor are listed below,

Germanium
Silicon
Gallium arsenide

Germanium

Germanium is a chemical component. The atomic number for the germanium is 32 and it is pointed as Ge symbol. This chemical element is hard, breakable, lustrous and greyish white in the community of the carbon. The structure is almost same as diamond. It has the stability property in water and air.

Acids and alkalis cannot affect this element of chemical, but by nitric acid it can be affected. The physical and chemical properties of the germanium are same as silicon. Melting point for the germanium is near about 939 degree centigrade.

Silicon

Silicon is a chemical stuff which is widely used in the electronics materials just because in its semiconductor characteristics are present. In the high energy department such as photovoltaic cells and solar panels silicon is conducted as primary element.

Density of the silicon is 2.33 gram per cubic centimeter at zero degrees centigrade. Boiling point and melting point of this chemical component is respectively 3568 Kelvin and 1685 Kelvin. In the periodic table silicon is situated as a 14^th element.

Gallium arsenide

Gallium arsenide is made with two chemical ingredients; the ingredients are arsenic and gallium. Molar mass of the gallium arsenide is 145 gram per mole. The amount of density of this chemical component is 5.32 gram per cubic centimeter.

Molecular formula for the gallium arsenide is GaAs. Among the manufacturing devices such as laser diodes, photovoltaic cells, computers, optoelectronic communications this type of semiconductor is used.

When conductors are considered as semiconductors?

Conductors and semiconductors are totally different in their own way. Let us elaborate in which condition conductors are considered as semiconductors.

A conductor never consider as a semiconductor. Conductors can conduct electricity while semiconductors have electrical properties between conductors and insulators. At any condition conductors are not able to change their own properties but a semiconductor can changes its properties.

When a semiconductor stays at room temperature it acts like a semiconductor but when the temperature is increase in that time it properties gets changed and it acts like a conductor.

Conclusion

By this article it can be concluded that, semiconductor is a type of matter which is in between the resistance typical of insulator and resistance typical of conductor.

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Indrani Banerjee

Hi..I am Indrani Banerjee. I completed my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. I am an enthusiastic person and I am a person who is positive about every aspect of life. I like to read Books and listen to music.