Semiconductors are materials that have a certain level of electrical conductivity, which is between that of metals and insulators. They can be used to create various electronic devices, such as diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits, that have many applications in modern technology.
The electrical conductivity of semiconductors depends on factors such as temperature, impurities, and external fields. By adding small amounts of impurities, called dopants, to a pure semiconductor material, such as silicon or germanium, its conductivity can be increased significantly. This process is called doping and it creates two types of semiconductors: n-type and p-type. When these two types are joined together, they form a semiconductor junction that allows current to flow in one direction only.
Semiconductors have many useful properties that make them suitable for various electronic functions. For example, they can amplify signals, switch between states, convert energy forms, and sense light or heat. Semiconductors are also the basis of nanoelectronics, which is the field of study that deals with devices at the nanoscale level.
