Why do we prefer semiconductor?
Why are using semiconductors instead of conductors in our diodes?
Posted in: #Electrical #Electronics
... Okay, the first question to answer and it's the most basic - are you aware of the difference between semi-conductor and a conductor? Share it with us.
Semi conductors have a crystal lattice structure that permits 'doping', which allows us to modify its behaviour.A conductor cannot be doped and remains a free electron material.
One of the most commonly used application of diode is for switching purpose. Diodes are the two terminal devices(Anode being one and Cathode) that when forward biased acts as closed switch and when reverse biased acts as open switch. This property of switching comes with semiconductors. Semiconductors are the elements whose conductivity lies between Conductor and Insulator, so will help of its property semicondutors are used in diodes. Whereas by using a conductor whose property is just to pass the current elements cannot be used in this case.
One of the most commonly used application of diode is for switching purpose. Diodes are the two terminal devices(Anode being one and Cathode) that when forward biased acts as closed switch and when reverse biased acts as open switch. This property of switching comes with semiconductors. Semiconductors are the elements whose conductivity lies between Conductor and Insulator, so will help of its property semicondutors are used in diodes. Whereas by using a conductor whose property is just to pass the current elements cannot be used in this case.
The difference between semiconductors and conductors are mainly includes its characteristics like .
1.The resistivity of the conductor is low, whereas semiconductor is moderate.
2.The conductivity of the conductor is high, whereas semiconductor is moderate.
3.The conductor has a large number of electrons for transmission, whereas semiconductor has a very little number of electrons for transmission.
4.The temperature coefficient of a conductor is positive, whereas semiconductor has negative.
5.The conductor doesn’t have forbidden gap whereas semiconductor has forbidden gap.
6.The resistivity value of the conductor is less than 10-5 Ω-m so it is negligible, whereas semiconductor has among the values of conductors & insulators i.e. 10-5 Ω-m-to-105 Ω-m.
7.The amount of current carriers at the usual temperature in the conductor is very high, whereas in semiconductors it is low.
8.The Conductivity value of the conductor is very high 10-7mho/m, whereas semiconductor has among those of insulators and conductors that are 10-13mho/m to 10-7mho/m.
9.The flow of current in a conductor is due to free electrons, whereas in semiconductors due to holes as well as free electrons.
10.The formation of the conductor can be done by metallic bonding, whereas in semiconductor it can be formed by covalent bonding.
11.The 0-kelvin behavior of conductor acts as a superconductor, whereas in semiconductor acts like an insulator.
12.The valence electrons in a conductor are one in the outermost shell, whereas in semiconductor it is four.
13.The band overlap in a conductor is both the valence and conduction bands are overlapped, whereas in semiconductor both bands are divided with an energy space of 1.1eV
The difference between semiconductors and conductors are mainly includes its characteristics like .
1.The resistivity of the conductor is low, whereas semiconductor is moderate.
2.The conductivity of the conductor is high, whereas semiconductor is moderate.
3.The conductor has a large number of electrons for transmission, whereas semiconductor has a very little number of electrons for transmission.
4.The temperature coefficient of a conductor is positive, whereas semiconductor has negative.
5.The conductor doesn’t have forbidden gap whereas semiconductor has forbidden gap.
6.The resistivity value of the conductor is less than 10-5 Ω-m so it is negligible, whereas semiconductor has among the values of conductors & insulators i.e. 10-5 Ω-m-to-105 Ω-m.
7.The amount of current carriers at the usual temperature in the conductor is very high, whereas in semiconductors it is low.
The conductivity of the conductor is high, whereas semiconductor is moderate.
The amount of current carriers at the usual temperature in the conductor is very high, whereas in semiconductors it is low.
The valence electrons in a conductor are one in the outermost shell, whereas in semiconductor it is four.
The resistivity of the conductor is low, whereas semiconductor is moderate.
.The temperature coefficient of a conductor is positive, whereas semiconductor has negative.
