What is a semiconductor?
Answer
A semiconductor is a material whose electrical conductivity lies between that of a conductor and an insulator, such as silicon and germanium.
The working
Definition
A semiconductor is a solid whose conductivity is much lower than a metal but much higher than an insulator, and it lies in between the two.
Energy gap
It has a small forbidden energy gap of about 1 eV between the valence and conduction bands, so a few electrons can jump across at room temperature.
Temperature effect
Its resistance decreases as temperature rises, because more electrons gain enough energy to conduct. This is opposite to metals.
Examples and use
Common examples are silicon and germanium. Their conductivity can be controlled by doping, which makes them the basis of diodes and transistors.
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