a crystal having a conductivity intermediate between those of an insulator and a metal (see table 31.1)
A semiconductor is a substance (usually Silicon doped with Germanium or Arsenic) that selectively conducts electricity. The selection usually occurs by running another current through a different axis. This is the principle of an transistor, and thus of chips as well.
a material that does not normally conduct electricity but will if energy is applied in some fashion...these may be n-type or p-type
a device in which the electrons are involveed in bonding, but which may be made to conduct under the proper conditions.
This is a material, such as Silicon, possessing resistive properties somewhere in between a conductor and insulator, used to effectively control current flow.
A special class of material that can exhibit both conducting and insulating properties.
A solid-state substance with conductive properties that can be altered with electricity. Silicon performs as a semiconductor when chemically combined with other elements. A semiconductor is also halfway between a conductor and an insulator. When charged with electricity or light, semiconductors change their state from non-conductive to conductive or vice versa. The most significant product built from a semiconductor is the transistor.
A material that has much lower resistance to the flow of electrical current in one direction than in another. Diodes, transistors, and many photovoltaic cells contain semiconductive materials.
It is a substance made basically from silicon or germanium, having the property of electrical conductivity intermediate between the insulator and a conductor.
Generic term for transistors, diodes and other devices with a limited or directional ability to conduct electricity.
A compound which has a conductivity intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator, and whose conductivity increases with temperature.
A material, like silicon, whose properties lie in between that of a conductor and an insulator. By doping with impurities, it can be made slightly conductive (n-type) or slightly insulative (p-type).
A material whose electrical resistance can be switched between insulating and conducting. Silicon is the most commonly used semiconductor material and the basic material for building most chips.
a substance through which the flow of electricity can be controlled — its conductive properties are between those of a metal conductor and an insulator
a kind of material intermediate between a conductor and an insulator. Semiconductors are used to make transistors, diodes and photovoltaic cells.
a substance conducting only a slight electrical current at room temperature, but showing increased conductivity at higher temperatures
Electronic components, such as integrated circuits ("chips") made out of semiconducting materials.... more on: Semiconductor
A solid-state material in which, in contrast to metals and insulators: (i) electrical conductivity can be controlled by orders of magnitude by adding very small amounts of alien elements, (ii) electrical conductivity can be controlled not only by negatively charged electrons, but also by positively charged holes and (iii) electrical conductivity is sensitive to temperature, illumination, and magnetic field.
A miniaturized electronic device, typically a computer chip for processing or memory, that controls the flow of electricity by varying the conductance between two materials.
(sc) a material whose electrical resistivity is intermediate between that of conductors and insulators, in which conduction takes place by means of holes and electrons.
A substance such as silicon through which electricity can flow under certain circumstances. Its conductive properties are between those of a good conductor and an insulator.
Used to make transistors and is a material which is neither a good electrical conductor nor a good electric insulator
(Also "microchip," "chip," "integrated circuit" or "IC"). Components that provide the memory, logic and virtually all other intelligence functions in today's electronic systems.
One of the materials falling between metals as good conductors and insulators as poor conductors in the periodic chart of the elements.
a substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of impurities
a conductor made with semiconducting material
a carrier of electricity that allows the ""miniaturization"" of electronic devices, including computers
a crystalline material that conducts electricity only when there is a high density of impurities in it
a crystalline solid that in its pure form exhibits a conductivity midway between that of metals and insulators
a device that varies in its ability to conduct electricity
a material having electrical properties intermediate between those of good electrical conductors and those of insulators
a material such as germanium and silicon that conducts electricity in a "semi-enthusiastic" way
a material that conducts electricity, but only under certain conditions, in contrast with conductors that always conduct well and insulators that always conduct poorly
a material that does not normally conduct electricity very well, but will conduct electricity if energy is applied is some fashion
a material that has intermediate conductivity between a conductor and an insulator
a material that is an insulator at very low temperature, but which has a sizable electrical conductivity at room temperature
a material that is an insulator at verylow temperature, but which has a sizable electricalconductivity at room temperature
a material that is an insulator at very lowtemperature, but which has a sizable electricalconductivity at room temperature
a material which behaves as an insulator at very lowtemperature, which has a sizable electricalconductivity at room temperature , and which does not preventthe motion of any charged particles within itself
a material which has an (Click link for more info and facts about electrical conductance) electrical conductance which is
a material which has an electrical conductance which is between that of an insulator and a conductor
a material whose electrical conductivity is greater than that of an insulator, such as glass or plastic, but less than that of a good conductor, such as silver or copper
a material with greater electrical conductivity than an insulator has but with less than that of a good conductor
a medium, a chip however not
an electronic conductor (ex
an electronic conductor (i
an electronic equipment consisting of chips designed to carry out a number of electronic functions in an integrated circuits
an element such as silicon or germanium that acts as an intermediate in electrical conductivity
an element that can conduct electricity and can be regulated as to the amount of its conductivity
an insulator with a rather narrow bandgap, enabling some electrons to cross from the valence band into the conduction band after thermal activation
an object/material that is able to conduct electricity better than nonconductors/insulators (glass), but not as well as conductors (copper)
a nonmetallic material that can conduct an electric current, but does so rather poorly
a normally insulating material that has been mixed with a few conductive atoms that cause the material to control an electric current passed through it
a solid crystalline material that conducts a small amount of electricity at room temperature
a solid or liquid material, able to conduct electricity at room temperature more readily than an insulator, but less easily than a metal
a solid-state electronic device which can be switched to conduct or block electric currents (thus, the term semi conductor)
a substance that is good at moving individual electrons, a property that makes it useful for building computer chips
a substance, usually a solid chemical element or compound, that can conduct electricity under some conditions but not others,
a substance whose electrical conductivity can be altered through variations in temperature, applied fields, concentration of impurities, etc
a type of material, such as silicon, that conducts electrical charges, but not as well as metals such as copper and aluminum
a unique material with physical properties somewhere in between a conductor like aluminum and an insulator like glass
Materials (silicon, germanium, etc.) used as the basis for sensing elements whose resistances to electric current fall between that of conductors and insulators.
Nonmetallic material that has a relatively narrow energy band gap.
A substance that will conduct electricity, but does not conduct as well as a metal (e.g. silicon, carbon). The amount of electricity flowing through a semiconductor can be precisely controlled.
material with a bandgap, which is neither totally insulating nor totally conductive at non zero temperatures. Some of its electrons that have a weak link to their atoms can become conduction electrons. Silicon is the most widely used semiconductor. A semiconductor is said to be of the n type (mainly charge carrying electrons) or of the p type (mainly charge carrying holes) depending on the dopants used
The basis for integrated circuits. They are solid crystalline substances, usually germanium or silicon. See LED.
solid-state material in which (unlike in metals and insulators) (1) large changes in electrical conductivity can be effected by adding very small amounts of impurity elements known as dopants, (2) electrical conductivity can be controlled by both negatively charged electrons and positively charged holes and (3) electrical conductivity is sensitive to temperature, illumination, and magnetic field; these properties result from the fact that the valence and conduction bands in semiconductors are separated by a energy gap that rarely exceeds about 3.5 eV. Semiconductors are found in the IVth group of the periodic table: diamond (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge) and tin (Sn); numerous compound semiconductors can be formed by combining elements from groups II-VI; also, some organic materials display semiconductor properties. learn more.
Material that is nether a conductor nor insulator. Its properties can be altered by a control voltage.
a class of materials, such as silicon, with electrical properties in between those of conductors (e.g. copper and aluminum) and insulators (e.g. glass and rubber). A material that exhibits relatively high resistance in a pure state and much lower resistance when it contains small amounts of certain impurities. It also denotes electronic devices made from semiconductor materials.
A material such as silicon whose conductivity is between that of a conductor and an insulator. Its conductivity can be modulated by adding impurities such as boron or phosphorus. Shunts: (or, to shunt) Means to divert electrical current with conducting lines, usually made of polysilicon.
A substance whose conductivity is improved by the addition of minute quantities of certain substances. Silicon is one type of semiconductor.
A material that has an electrical conductivity characteristic between that of insulators and conductors.
The elements or compounds whose conductivity falls between that of conductors and insulators.
A material with the unusual property of being either electrically conducting or insulating depending on the addition of impurities and applied electric fields. Semiconductors are essential materials for the construction of integrated circuits and most modern electronics. Silicon is the most commonly used semiconductor, while others such as gallium arsenide, germanium, or indium phosphide, are used in specialized applications.
a material that, in terms of its physical properties, is between a conductor and an insulator. The commonest semiconducting material, silicon, was used in the transistor, the world's first electronic switch, and is still the basis of modern microprocessors and information technology.
A semiconductor is any electrical device in which the resistance decreases as the temperature increases. I–V Graphs
A material with electrical resistance between those of conductors and insulators.
A material such as silicon, which has a crystalline structure that will allow current to flow under certain conditions. Semiconductors are usually less conductive than metals but not an insulator like rubber.
A solid compound that conducts electricity well at high temperatures but practically not at all at low temperatures. (See conductor and insulator.)
an element with an electrical resistivity in the range between an insulator and a conductor. A material that can conduct or block the flow of electric current depending on processing and applied electrical biases.
Material with an electrical characteristic which is insulators. Most commonly used semiconductors for transistors and diodes are germanium, silicon, and gallium arsenide.
A semiconductor is a substance (usually Silicon doped with Germanium or Arsenic) that selectively conducts electricity. The selection usually occurs by running another current through a different axis. Microprocessors are made of semiconductive materials.
Any material that has a limited capacity for conducting an electric current. It is neither a good conductor nor a good insulator. This characteristic allows it to perform controlled operations as transistors, diodes, and integrated circuit packages. Semiconductor material can be densely packed and layered thru photographic processes and has given rise to the modern world of electronics. Certain semiconductors, including silicon, gallium arsenide, copper indium diselenide, and cadmium telluride, are uniquely suited to the photovoltaic conversion process.
A material that is neither a conductor nor an insulator. Silicon and germanium are the two most common semiconductor materials.
1) A material which conducts more than an insulator but less than a conductor. 2) Any device, such as a transistor, which is mainly made from semiconductor material.
A crystalline structure (example: silicon or germanium) that sometimes functions as a conductor and sometimes as an insulator. It can be used as an electronic switch such as a transistor or diode.
A material whose electrical conductivity is between that of a metal and an isolator.
Material that discriminately transmits electricity. Semiconductors will only allow voltages within a certain range to be carried, thus the ‘semi.' Because a high voltage is necessary to turn on a semiconductor, most are mixed with an impurity -- in process called doping -- that allows their conductivity to be increased. The most common types of semiconductor material are silicon and germanium.
a class of materials with special electrical properties used to fabricate solar cells, transistors, integrated circuits, and other electronic devices.
A material that has a resistance characteristic between that of insulators and conductors.
A material whose ability to conduct electricity falls between that of conductors and insulators. The conductivity of semiconductors can be controlled by adding specific amounts of impurities in a process called doping. That process changes the number of negatively charged electrons or positively charged "holes,'' unoccupied electronic energy levels in an otherwise full or nearly full energy band in a solid, which are free to respond to applied electrical fields. Learn more about Semiconductor...
A material that conducts more than an insulator but less than a conductor. Some semiconductors conduct at some times but not at others. Some common semiconductors are silicon and germanium. Transistors are made out of semiconductor crystals.
Any material that has a limited capacity for conducting an electric current. Generally falls between a metal and an insulator in conductivity. Certain semiconductors, including silicon, gallium arsenide, copper indium diselenide, and cadmium telluride, are uniquely suited to the photovoltaic conversion process.
a silicon based material or electronic component that can be made to act like a conductor or an insulator.
A material, such as germanium, gallium arsenide and silicon, that conducts electricity at a level somewhat between a real conductor, such as copper, and an insulator, such as plastic.
A material having a conductance value between that of an insulator and that of a conductor. Of significant importance in the manufacture of semiconductor electronic devices.
Any of a class of solids having higher resistivity than a conductor, but lower resistivity than an insulator. Important semiconductors are silicon, germanium, lead sulfide, selenium, silicon carbide and gallium arsenide. Semiconductor materials are the basis of all integrated circuits. (7/96)
A material, usually silicon or germanium, which permits limited current flow.
This is the generic name for discrete devices and integrated circuits that can control the flow of electrical signals. Silicon is the basic substrate material on which semiconductors are fabricated.
A material that has a limited capacity for conducting electricity. The silicon used to make PV cells is a semiconductor.
A material that is neither a good conductor of electricity (like copper) nor a good insulator (like rubber). The most common semiconductor materials are doped silicon and germanium.
Any of various solid crystalline substances, such as germanium or silicon, having electrical conductivity greater than insulators but less than good conductors, and used especially as a base material for computer chips and other electronic devices.
A substance which is intermediate between a conductor and an insulator such as silicon. http://www.everythingbio.com/glos/definition.php?word=semiconductor
A material that allows electrical current to flow under certain circumstances. It is used to make transistors and other "solid state" electronic components. Silicon is one of the most frequently used semiconductor materials.
A material whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of metals (conductors) and insulators (non-conductors) and can be modified physically or chemically to increase or decrease its conductivity from a "normal" state by "dopants."
material which can conduct electricity better than an insulator, but not as well as a conductor
A crystal whose electrical conductivity is between that of a metal and an insulator. The conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of impurities. This conduction is utilized in a solid state device. Depending on the temperature and pressure, a semiconductor can control the flow of electricity.
A crystalline substance such as silicon that is more resistant to electrical charges than conductors (like most metals) but less resistant than insulators (like glass and rubber). Semiconductors are the raw material that is processed, via photolithography, to make integrated circuits.
An element such as silicon or germanium or a compound like GaAs that has an intermediate band gap. Unlike metals that freely conduct and insulators that do not conduct charge, semiconductors selectively conduct charge through the movement of holes and electrons.
An electronic device (also referred to as an integrated circuit or IC), such as memory or a microcontroller, used in a variety of applications including computer, automotive and telecommunications products.
A material that is neither a good insulator nor a good conductor; usually silicon, germanium, or gallium arsenide. The term has come to refer to all devices made of semiconducting material, including integrated circuits, transistors, and diodes.
A substance that does not conduct electricity at low temperatures but does so at higher temperatures.
In wire industry terminology, a material possessing electrical conductivity that falls somewhere between that of conductors and insulators. Usually made by adding carbon particles to an insulator. Not the same as semiconductor materials such as silicon, germanium, etc. Used for making transistors and diodes.
a solid crystalline material that is neither a good conductor of electricity (like copper) nor a good insulator (like rubber); the most common semiconductor material is silicon; examples of semiconductor devices include integrated circuits and discrete (non-integrated) semiconductors like transistors and diodes.
A material, which has an electrical conductivity between that of an insulator and a good conductor like copper. Silicon and germanium are typical semiconductors whose conductivity are poor at low temperatures, but is improved by minute additions of certain substances, or by the application of light heat or voltage.
A material that has an electrical conductivity in between that of a metal and an insulator. Typical semiconductors for PV cells include silicon, gallium arsenide, copper indium diselenide, and cadmium telluride.
An element, such as silicon, that is intermediate in electrical conductivity between conductors and insulators, through which conduction takes place by means of holes and electrons.
A material with a small electrical conductivity that increases with temperature. Typical semiconductors like silicon have a conductivity intermediate between that of metals and non-conducting (insulating) materials.
Certain elements in nature, such as silicon, perform like semiconductors when chemically combined with other elements. A semiconductor is halfway between a conductor and an insulator. When charged with electricity or light, semiconductors change their state from nonconductive to conductive or vice versa. The most significant semiconductor is the transistor, which is simply an on/off switch.
The item at the heart of the computer. A material with an electrical conductivity some where between a good conductor (metal) and a poor conductor (insulating material.) Its conductivity increases as its temperature rises. As a device, a semiconductor is made from silicon, germanium or similar material and its basic function in computer applications is to represent 'on' or 'off': expressed another way, 1 or 0.
Semiconductors acquire electrical conductivity under the influence of light rays. The possibility of influencing the conductivity through doping makes semiconductors interesting for the production of solar cells . A total of 90% of all solar cells produced worldwide are manufactured from the semiconductor material silicon , the second most frequent element of the earth’s crust.
An element which is neither a good conductor or a good insulator, but rather lies somewhere between the two. Characterized by a valence shell containing four electrons. Silicon, germanium and carbon are the semiconductors most frequently used in electronics.
A solid crystalline substance whose electrical conductivity falls between that of a conductor and an insulator.
A substance or material that conducts electricity better than an insulator but not as well as a conductor. Examples of semiconductors include silicon and germanium.
A semiconductor is a solid whose electrical conductivity can be controlled over a wide range, either permanently or dynamically. Semiconductors are tremendously important technologically and economically. Silicon is the most commercially important semiconductor, though dozens of others are important as well.