Semiconductors

Extracted Attributes

• Definition

  Material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator

• Key Property

  Conductivity modifiable by doping

• Primary Material

  Silicon

• Emerging Materials

  Tin oxide, High-power gallium nitride, Antimonide-based and bismuthide-based materials, Graphene, Pyrite, Silicon carbide

• Key Growth Drivers

  AI, High-performance computing, Data center market, Automotive sector

• Global Sales (2024)

  $627.6 billion

• Other Common Materials

  Gallium Arsenide, Germanium

• Projected Global Sales (2030)

  Over $1 trillion

• Largest Product Category (2024)

  Logic products ($212.6 billion)

• Method of Conductivity Increase

  Doping (adding pentavalent or trivalent atoms), Increasing temperature

• Second Largest Product Category (2024)

  Memory products ($165.1 billion)

Timeline

• Development of the cat's-whisker detector, the first practical application of semiconductors in electronics. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1904-XX-XX

• Invention of the transistor, a key development in electronics based on quantum physics. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1947-XX-XX

• Invention of the integrated circuit, further revolutionizing electronics. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1958-XX-XX

• Global semiconductor sales reached a record $627.6 billion, an increase of 19.1% compared to 2023. (Source: web_search_results)

  2024-XX-XX

• Double-digit market growth projected for the semiconductor industry. (Source: web_search_results)

  2025-XX-XX

• Global semiconductor revenues are projected to exceed $1 trillion. (Source: web_search_results)

  2030-XX-XX

Semiconductor

A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. Its conductivity can be modified by adding impurities ("doping") to its crystal structure. When two regions with different doping levels are present in the same crystal, they form a semiconductor junction. The behavior of charge carriers, which include electrons, ions, and electron holes, at these junctions is the basis of diodes, transistors, and most modern electronics. Some examples of semiconductors are silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, and elements near the so-called "metalloid staircase" on the periodic table. After silicon, gallium arsenide is the second-most common semiconductor and is used in laser diodes, solar cells, microwave-frequency integrated circuits, and others. Silicon is a critical element for fabricating most electronic circuits. Semiconductor devices can display a range of different useful properties, such as passing current more easily in one direction than the other, showing variable resistance, and having sensitivity to light or heat. Because the electrical properties of a semiconductor material can be modified by doping and by the application of electrical fields or light, devices made from semiconductors can be used for amplification, switching, and energy conversion. The term semiconductor is also used to describe materials used in high capacity, medium- to high-voltage cables as part of their insulation, and these materials are often plastic XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) with carbon black. The conductivity of silicon can be increased by adding a small amount (of the order of 1 in 108) of pentavalent (antimony, phosphorus, or arsenic) or trivalent (boron, gallium, indium) atoms. This process is known as doping, and the resulting semiconductors are known as doped or extrinsic semiconductors. Apart from doping, the conductivity of a semiconductor can be improved by increasing its temperature. This is contrary to the behavior of a metal, in which conductivity decreases with an increase in temperature. The modern understanding of the properties of a semiconductor relies on quantum physics to explain the movement of charge carriers in a crystal lattice. Doping greatly increases the number of charge carriers within the crystal. When a semiconductor is doped by Group V elements, they will behave like donors creating free electrons, known as "n-type" doping. When a semiconductor is doped by Group III elements, they will behave like acceptors creating free holes, known as "p-type" doping. The semiconductor materials used in electronic devices are doped under precise conditions to control the concentration and regions of p- and n-type dopants. A single semiconductor device crystal can have many p- and n-type regions; the p–n junctions between these regions are responsible for the useful electronic behavior. Using a hot-point probe, one can determine quickly whether a semiconductor sample is p- or n-type. A few of the properties of semiconductor materials were observed throughout the mid-19th and first decades of the 20th century. The first practical application of semiconductors in electronics was the 1904 development of the cat's-whisker detector, a primitive semiconductor diode used in early radio receivers. Developments in quantum physics led in turn to the invention of the transistor in 1947 and the integrated circuit in 1958.

Web Search Results

• What Are Semiconductors Used For? (Uses & Examples)

  A semiconductor is a material whose ability to conduct electricity falls between that of a conductor (which readily conducts electricity) and an insulator (which resists electricity). Commonly made from silicon, semiconductors can function as either depending on their environment. ## FAQs What are the main uses of semiconductor devices? [...] The main application of semiconductors is in the creation of semiconductor devices which are essential for a multitude of electronic products. Semiconductor devices conduct electric currents in the solid state, instead of as free electrons across a vacuum, and are the successor to vacuum tubes in almost all applications. [...] This means that, under certain conditions, semiconductors have the ability to act either as a conductor or an insulator. Semiconductors can be pure elements such as the most commonly used silicon, or compounds such as gallium arsenide. ## Semiconductor devices

• The Future of the Semiconductor Industry - IEEE IRDS™

  Semiconductors have the unique ability to act as either insulator or conductor, depending on environmental factors. Temperature, light, electric currents, or even electric fields can affect a semiconductor’s properties. The number of valence electrons in the electron shell of an elemental semiconductor determines its conductivity. [...] Traditionally, manufacturers have used one of three common semiconductor materials: germanium, silicon, and gallium arsenide. Go in depth on semiconductor materials. Discovered in 1886, germanium was the “original” semiconductor. However, germanium fell from grace after manufacturers realized silicon cost significantly less. [...] For example, scientists have seen potential in revisiting germanium for use in transistor technology. Electrons move four times faster in germanium than in silicon, providing a great opportunity to improve speed. Additionally, manufacturers have experimented with the following semiconductor materials: Tin oxide High-power gallium nitride Antimonide-based and bismuthide-based materials Graphene Pyrite Read more about semiconductor materials

• State of the semiconductor industry - PwC

  ### Since the transistor's invention about 70 years ago, semiconductors have driven industrial advancements and enabled key applications like personal computing, smartphones, data centers, and cloud computing. This has created a complex, interdependent relationship between semiconductors and modern industry. Today, semiconductors are indispensable, permeating every aspect of our lives. [...] Memory ICs have been the fastest-growing semiconductor category over the past two decades, with DRAM and HBM standing out. DRAM will account for 14% of total semiconductor revenue in 2024, while HBM, optimized for high-performance parallel computing and AI workloads, is expected to grow rapidly with a 64% CAGR in bit growth and a 58% CAGR in revenue through 2028. [...] We anticipate that global semiconductor revenues will grow more than twice as fast as global GDP, reaching over $1 trillion by 2030. This report highlights three key drivers of this growth and two significant trends. Global semiconductor market forecast by component type, 2023-2030 ($bn) Source: Omdia Memory enters a new frontier ----------------------------

• Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 19.1% in 2024; Double-Digit ...

  “The global semiconductor market experienced its highest-ever sales year in 2024, topping $600 billion in annual sales for the first time, and double-digit market growth is projected for 2025,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “Semiconductors enable virtually all modern technologies – including medical devices, communications, defense applications, AI, advanced transportation, and countless others – and the long-term industry outlook is incredibly strong.” [...] WASHINGTON—Feb. 7, 2025—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced global semiconductor sales hit $627.6 billion in 2024, an increase of 19.1% compared to the 2023 total of $526.8 billion. Additionally, fourth-quarter sales of $170.9 billion were 17.1% more than the fourth quarter of 2023, and 3.0% higher than the third quarter of 2024. And global sales for the month of December 2024 were $57.0 billion, a decrease of 1.2% compared to the November 2024 total. Monthly sales are [...] Several semiconductor product segments stood out in 2024. Sales of logic products totaled $212.6 billion in 2024, making it the largest product category by sales. Memory products were second in terms of sales, increasing by 78.9% in 2024 to a total of $165.1 billion. DRAM products, a subset of memory, recorded an 82.6% sales increase, the largest percentage growth of any product category in 2024.

• Semiconductor industry outlook 2025 | Infosys Knowledge Institute

  Silicon carbide and gallium nitride have revolutionized power electronics and high-frequency applications. Technology innovations in graphene and III-V semiconductors are being explored for their potential to improve speed, energy efficiency, and communication. In AI, the need for low-power, high-performance chips is driving material advancements. Superconducting materials are gaining attention for their ability to reduce power loss and improve efficiency in AI hardware. Intel and Graphene [...] The semiconductor industry is poised to grow at a 9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2030, reaching $1 trillion by 2030. The data center market, particularly for GPUs, high-bandwidth memory, SSDs, and NAND, is expected to be the primary growth driver. While demand had weakened by the end of 2024, the automotive sector is still projected to outperform the broader industry from 2025 to 2030, with an expected 8% to 9% CAGR. Consumer and industrial electronics as well as telecom [...] The semiconductor industry is undergoing significant transformation driven by innovations in advanced packaging, new materials, and AI-enabled manufacturing and design (Figure 5). These developments are enhancing performance, energy efficiency, and manufacturing precision, addressing the growing demands of AI, high-performance computing, and emerging technologies. Below, we explore key advancements shaping the future of semiconductor technology.

• Instance Of

  Q5633421