What is a semiconductor? An electrical engineer explains how these critical electronic components work and how they are made A silicon disc, or ‘wafer,’ yields dozens of semiconductor chips. Steve Jurvetson/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY What is a semiconductor?
Common semiconductor compounds include gallium arsenide, indium antimonide and the oxides of most metals. We also widely use gallium arsenide ( GaAs) in low-noise, high-gain, weak-signal amplifying devices. A semiconductor device can perform the function of the original vacuum tube, but with hundreds of times its volume.
The most common semiconducting materials are crystalline solids, but amorphous and liquid semiconductors are also known. These include hydrogenated amorphous silicon and mixtures of arsenic, selenium, and tellurium in a variety of proportions.
When it comes to sustainability, semiconductors also play a vital role. They can be found in wind turbines and solar farms. In healthcare, they are in medical devices and equipment as well as implantable technology, like pacemakers and insulin pumps.