Semiconductor Basics

Semiconductors may sound very technical, but the concept is very simple. You do not need to
become the most intelligent person, nor an engineering graduate to understand how it works.
As long as you know its basic, you will be able to appreciate. First of all, it is worthwhile to
understand the resistors, which are the most basic passive component in electronic or electrical
circuits. However, unlike the resistor, which is a diode that doesnt behave with respect to the
voltage since it has a relationship of exponential I-V, and therefore cannot be described in a
simple manner using Ohms law.
The basic and unidirectional semiconductor device is the diodes that enable current to flow
through only in one direction, acting like a one way electrical valve. Before looking at how the
power or signal diodes work need to understand the semiconductors basic concept and
construction. But what is a Semiconductor material? First of all, examine what makes
something a Conductor or an Insulator.
Lets Talk About the Basics
Resistivity: As a general rule, the electrical Resistance of an electrical or electronic component
or device is defined as the ratio of the voltage difference across the current flowing through it,
basic Ohms Law principals. If you use resistance as a tool for measuring, it depends on the
physical size being measured and the material of which it is made.
Conductors: It goes without saying that the conductors are materials that have low values of
resistivity. This low value enables them to easily pass on an electric current because of having a
plenty of free electrons that are floating within the basic structure of an atom. When a positive
voltage is applied to the specific material, the free electrons will leave their parent atom and
would definitely travel together forming an electron drift.
Insulators: Insulators are the exact opposite of conductors. They are made of materials,
generally non-metals, that have no free electrons floating within their basic atomic structure
since the electrons are strongly attracted by the positively charged inner nucleus. Examples of
good insulators are fused quartz, marble, p.v.c. rubber plastics and many more. Insulators play
an important role within electronic and electrical circuits, because without them, electrical
circuits would not work. For example, insulators made of porcelain or glass are used for
overhead transmission cable and insulating, while the epoxy-glass resin materials are employed
to make printed circuit boards.
Semiconductor Basics
Semiconductors materials such as germanium (Ge), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and silicon (Si),
have electrical properties in the middle, between those of an insulator and a conductor.
They are not good insulators nor good conductors (hence getting the name as semiconductors). They have few free electrons since their atoms are grouped together in a

crystal lattice, crystalline pattern. However, their capacity to conduct electricity can be deeply
improved by adding specific impurities to this crystalline structure, thereby, producing free
electrons than holes or vice versa. By controlling the quantity of impurities added to the
semiconductor material, it becomes possible to control its conductivity, and everything works
efficiently.
These are just a few of the most basic concepts of a semiconductor.