5 Semiconductors and their uses

Silicon

used as a semiconductor in electronic devices such as transistors, printed circuit boards, and integrated
circuits make use of silicon's highly conductive properties to maximize their performance.

Germanium

used to make transistors for use in electronic devices. Germanium is also used to create alloys and as a
phosphor in fluorescent lamps.

Gallium Arsenide

used to manufacture devices such as monolithic microwave integrated circuits, microwave frequency
integrated circuits, infrared light-emitting diodes, solar cells, laser diodes and optical windows.
Selenium

used in the glass industry to decolorize glass and to make red-colored glasses and enamels. It is used as
a catalyst in many chemical reactions. Selenium is used in solar cells and photocells – in fact the first
solar cell was made using selenium. It is also used as a photographic toner.

Tellurium

used to vulcanize rubber, to tint glass and ceramics, in solar cells, in rewritable CDs and DVDs and as a
catalyst in oil refining. It can be doped with silver, gold, copper or tin in semiconductor applications.