How Semiconductors Work?

The truth is, a semiconductor is not an invention, rather one invented. Seems difficult to
understand, isnt it? Well, there are too many semiconductor devices available in the market
today. The breakthrough of semiconductor materials has paved the way for tremendous and
important advancements in the field of electronics. The miniaturization of computer parts and
computers, semiconductors are needed. Aside from that, semiconductors are required for the
manufacturing of electronic parts like transistors, diodes, and photovoltaic cells.
Uncovering Semiconductors Materials
Semiconductor materials include the elements like the germanium, and silicon, and the
compounds lead sulfide, indium phosphide or gallium arsenide. There are a lot of
semiconductors, even certain plastics can be made semiconductors, enabling plastic lightemitting 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 discover
semiconductors at the core of transistors and microprocessor chips. Anything that's radio
waves or computerized depends on semiconductors. These days, most transistors and
semiconductor chips are created with silicon.
If you want to understand how semiconductors work, the simplest semiconductor tool is the
diode, and is the best initial point. Upon understanding the art of diode, you'll learn what a
semiconductor is all about, how a diode can be created, and how doping works. But before
anything else, it is important to understand the essence of silicon. One very important element
is 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 has
4 electrons in its outer orbital. This enables them to form nice crystals. The 4 electrons will form
the perfect covalent bonds with 4 neighboring atoms, which creates a lattice. In the carbon, it is
understandable that crystalline will form as a diamond. As for the silicon, silvery is the
crystalline form, which is a metallic-looking substance. Metals have a tendency to be good
conductors of electricity since they usually have "free electrons" that can move easily between
electricity and atoms, and involves the flow of electrons. The outer electrons in a silicon crystal
are involved in perfect covalent bonds, so they can't move around. The insulator is a pure
silicon crystal -- little electricity will flow through it. Doping is the measure that changes the
process.
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 semiconductor
materials have 4 valence electrons, 4 electrons in the outer shell. By putting 2% of atoms with 5
valence electrons like the arsenic in with a 4 valence electron semiconductor like the silicon. To

affect the overall crystal structure, there are not enough arsenic atoms. A doped semiconductor
is more like a conductor than an undoped semiconductor.
A semiconductor is a very technical subject, and if you do not have an electronic background,
understanding its works is going to be every difficult. To appreciate the things better, start with
the basics.