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The most commonly used semiconductor is _______.
Germanium
Silicon
Carbon
Sulphur
Silicon
Silicon is the most widely used semiconductor material in the electronics industry due to its abundance in nature and superior thermal stability. It forms the foundation for modern integrated circuits (ICs), transistors, and diodes.
Silicon is the most widely used semiconductor material in the electronics industry due to its abundance in nature and superior thermal stability. It forms the foundation for modern integrated circuits (ICs), transistors, and diodes.
EgтАЛ=1.1┬аeV тАФ Bandgap energy of Silicon at 300K
I=I0тАЛ(e╬╖VTтАЛVтАЛтИТ1) тАФ Diode current equation defining temperature dependence
Silicon has an atomic number of 14, possessing four valence electrons that create a stable crystal lattice structure via covalent bonding. Compared to Germanium, Silicon has a larger bandgap energy (EgтАЛтЙИ1.1┬аeV), which allows electronic devices to operate reliably at higher temperatures without excessive thermal carrier generation.
Silicon is an elemental semiconductor found in silica (sand).
It has a high melting point (1414┬░C), facilitating high-temperature device operation.
The native oxide (SiO2тАЛ) of Silicon is an excellent insulator, crucial for MOSFET fabrication.
Germanium was used in early electronics but is now mostly replaced by Silicon.
High abundance and low cost
Stable performance at higher temperatures
Formation of high-quality native oxide layer
Lower electron mobility compared to some compound semiconductors (like GaAs)
Indirect bandgap limits efficiency in light emission (LED/Lasers)
Integrated circuits (microprocessors)
Diodes and Transistors (BJT, MOSFET)
Photovoltaic solar cells
Silicon dominates over 90% of the semiconductor device market.
Option A (Germanium) is sensitive to temperature and prone to leakage currents.
Option C (Carbon) in its diamond form is a wide-bandgap semiconductor but difficult to process.
Option D (Sulphur) is generally an insulator.
B is correct тАФ Silicon is the most commonly used semiconductor due to its excellent thermal stability, abundance, and the ease of manufacturing high-quality native oxides.
In competitive exams, remember that Silicon's cut-in voltage is 0.7V while Germanium's is 0.3V; this is a frequent point of comparison in questions regarding power dissipation.