SEMICONDUCTORS

WHAT IS A
SEMICONDUCTOR
?

- a material that has a conductivity

level somewhere between a good
conductor and a good insulator

-  In a process called doping, small

amounts of impurities are added to
pure semiconductors causing large
changes in the conductivity of the
material.
 TWO CLASSES OF SEMICONDUCTORS:

SINGLE CRYSTAL COMPOUND

-such as Germanium (Ge) and Silicon -such as Gallium Arsenide
(Si) having a repetitive crystal (GaAs), Cadmium Sulfide (Cds),
structure etc

Most frequently used in the construction of electronic devices are Ge, Si, and
GaAs.
Examples: