SEMICONDUCTORS

Image source: Google Images

 The Group 4A elements silicon and germanium are especially suited as
semiconductors.

Image source: CHANG, 2012

The Band Theory of Electrical Conductivity states that
delocalized electrons move freely through “bands” formed by
overlapping molecular orbitals.

Image source:
Brown, 2011
 Semiconductors are materials whose energy gap for
electronic excitations lies between zero and about 4 electron
volts (eV).

They normally are not conductors, but will conduct electricity

at elevated temperatures or when combined with a small
amount of certain other elements.

Image source: CHANG, 2012

SEVERAL TYPES OF SEMICONDUCTORS

1.  Elemental semiconductors – Si, Ge, P, S, Se Te

2.  Binary compound semiconductors

III-V compund semiconductors (such as GaAs) have

properties very similar to their group IV counterparts.

II–VI compound semiconductors have bandgaps larger

than 1 eV. The exceptions are compounds containing the
heavy element mercury (Hg).

Mercury telluride (HgTe) is a zero-bandgap semiconductor

(or a semimetal) similar to gray tin.
SEVERAL TYPES OF SEMICONDUCTORS

While the large bandgap II–VI compound semiconductors

have potential applications for displays and lasers.

The smaller bandgap II–VI semiconductors are important

materials for the fabrication of infrared detectors.

IV-VI compound semiconductors lead sulfide (PbS), PbTe

and tin sulfide (SnS) are also important as infrared detectors.

GaN, a large bandgap III–V compound are being used for

blue light emitting diodes and lasers.
SEVERAL TYPES OF SEMICONDUCTORS

3. Oxides

Some oxides, such as CuO and Cu2O, are well-known

semiconductors.

In general, oxide semiconductors are not well understood

with regard to their growth processes, so they have limited
potential for applications at present.

II–VI compound zinc oxide (ZnO), which has found

application as a transducer and as an ingredient of adhesive
tapes and sticking plasters.

High-Tc superconductors, is based on the semiconductor

lanthanum copper oxide (La2CuO4), which has a bandgap
of about 2eV.
SEVERAL TYPES OF SEMICONDUCTORS

4. Layered semiconductors

Semiconducting compounds such as lead iodide (PbI2),

molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and gallium selenide (GaSe)
are characterized by their layered crystal structures.

These layered semiconductors have been of interest

because the behavior of electrons in the layers is quasi-two-
dimensional. Also, the interaction between layers can be
modified by incorporating foreign atoms between the layers
in a process known as intercalation.
SEVERAL TYPES OF SEMICONDUCTORS

5. Organic semiconductors

The band gaps of these compounds can be changed more

easily than those of inorganic semiconductors to suit the
application by changing their chemical formulas.

C60 (fullerene), have been found to be semiconductors.

One form of carbon consists of sheets of graphite rolled into

a tube of some nanometers in diameter known as
nanotubes. These carbon nanotubes and their “cousin”, BN
nanotubes, hold great promise as nanoscale electronic
circuit elements.
SEVERAL TYPES OF SEMICONDUCTORS

6. Magnetic semiconductors

Many compounds containing magneGc ions such as europium (Eu)

and manganese (Mn), have interesGng semiconducGng and
magneGc properGes. Example: EuS.


The electrical conductivity of a semiconductor is influenced by
the presence of small numbers of impurity atoms. The process
of adding controlled amounts of impurity atoms to a material is
known as doping.

Image source: Brown, 2012

Donor impurities provide conduction electrons. Solids containing
donor impurities are called n-type semiconductors, where n stands
for negative (the charge of the “extra” electron).

Image source: Chang, 2012; Brown, 2011

Impurities that are electron deficient are called acceptor
impurities. Semiconductors that contain acceptor impurities
are called p-type semiconductors, where p stands for
positive.

Image source: Chang, 2012; Brown, 2011

REFERENCES:

Brown, T. L., Lemay Jr., H. E., Bursten, B. E., Murphy,

C. J., and Woodward, P. M. (2012) Chemistry: The
Central Science, 12th Ed., USA: Pearson Education,
Inc.

Brown, L. S. and Holme, T. A. (2011) Chemistry for

Engineering Students, 2nd Edition, USA, Brooks/Cole,
Cengage Learning

Chang, R. (2010) Chemistry, 10th Ed., New York,

McGraw Hill

Yu, P. Y. and Cardona M. (2010) Fundamentals of

Semiconductors Physics and Materials Properties, 4th
Edition, Germany: Springer