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Chapter 12: Problem 17

What advantages does silicon have over other semiconductors for use in integrated circuits?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Silicon has several advantages over other semiconductors for use in integrated circuits, such as its abundance and low cost, higher band gap (1.12 eV) for better performance at high temperatures, high-temperature stability due to its higher melting point (1414掳C), and the ability to form stable, insulating silicon dioxide layers. Additionally, silicon boasts a mature and well-established manufacturing process, leading to high-quality, reliable integrated circuits with high production yields.

Step by step solution

01

Brief Overview of Semiconductors

In the field of electronics, semiconductors are materials that have an electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and that of an insulator. They are vital in the production of integrated circuits, which are a set of numerous electronic components such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors that are fabricated on a single chip. Some of the common semiconductor materials include silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), and gallium arsenide (GaAs).
02

Abundance and Low Cost

Silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth, constituting about \(27.7\%\) of the Earth's crust by mass. This makes it relatively inexpensive and easily accessible compared to other semiconductor materials. Germanium is much less abundant and considerably more expensive, while gallium arsenide requires complex manufacturing processes, leading to higher production costs.
03

Silicon's Higher Band Gap

The bandgap is the energy difference between the valence and the conduction bands in a material. A wider band gap translates to less current leakage and better overall performance at high temperatures. Silicon has a bandgap of \(1.12 \ eV\), which is higher than that of germanium (\(0.66\ eV\)) and contributes to silicon's ability to operate at higher temperatures with minimal degradation.
04

High Temperature Stability

Silicon has a higher melting point (\(1414^{\circ}C\)) compared to germanium (\(938^{\circ} C\)), allowing for more stable operation at higher temperatures. This is crucial for integrated circuits, as electronic components generate heat during operation.
05

Oxide Formation

Silicon can be oxidized to form silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon dioxide is a stable, excellent insulator with high-quality thermal stability which can be used as a gate dielectric in the formation of the metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structure and as a protective layer against environmental contamination and moisture. This enables the fabrication of more complex and smaller integrated circuits. Other semiconductor materials like germanium do not form good-quality native oxide layers with these properties.
06

Mature Manufacturing Process

Due to the long history of silicon's use in semiconductor devices, its manufacturing process is well-established and continuously innovating. This allows for high-quality, reliable silicon-based integrated circuits with high production yields. In conclusion, silicon's abundance, lower cost, higher band gap, high-temperature stability, ability to form stable oxides, and mature manufacturing processes give it significant advantages over other semiconductor materials for use in integrated circuits.

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