A semiconductor is a material which has electrical conductivity to a degree between that of a metal (such as copper) and that of an insulator (such as glass). Semiconductors are the foundation of modern solid state electronics , including transistors , solar cells , light- emitting diodes (LEDs), quantum dots and digital and analog integrated circuits . A semiconductor may have a number of unique properties, one of which is the ability to change conductivity by the addition of impurities ("doping ") or by interaction with another phenomenon, such as an electric field or light; this ability makes a semiconductor very useful for constructing a device that can amplify, switch, or convert an energy input. The modern understanding of the properties of a semiconductor relies on quantum physics to explain the movement of electrons inside a lattice of atoms.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 06:03:38 +0000