What is a semiconductor? An electrical engineer explains how these critical components work and are made From the 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow series Trevor Thornton, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University Aug 10, 2022 Aug 10, 2022 Updated Feb 17, 2023 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A silicon disc, or 'wafer,' yields dozens of semiconductor chips. Steve Jurvetson/Wikimedia Commons, CC BYkAmk6>m$6>:4@?5F4E@CD 2C6 2 4C:E:42= A2CE @7 2=>@DE 6G6CJ >@56C? 6=64EC@?:4 56G:46[ 2?5 E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 D6>:4@?5F4E@CD 2C6 >256 :? %2H2:?] x?4C62D:?8 4@?46C?D @G6C E96 C6=:2?46 @? %2:H2:? 7@C D6>:4@?5F4E@CD – 6DA64:2==J 8:G6? E96 E6?F@FD C6=2E:@?D9:A 36EH66? %2:H2? 2?5 r9:?2 – =65 E96 &]$] r@?8C6DD E@ A2DD E96 rwx!$ 2?5 $4:6?46 24E :? =2E6 yF=J a_aa] %96 24E AC@G:56D >@C6 E92? &$Sd_ 3:==:@? :? DF3D:5:6D E@ 3@@DE &]$] D6>:4@?5F4E@C AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 92D 366? H:56=J 4@G6C65 :? E96 ?6HD] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6Cl<+t!d<4ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?U2>Aj@:l2@Qm%C6G@C %9@C?E@?k^2m[ 2? 6=64EC:42= 6?8:?66C H9@ DEF5:6D D6>:4@?5F4E@CD[ 6IA=2:?D H92E E96D6 56G:46D 2C6 2?5 9@H E96J 2C6 >256]k^6>mk^Am People are also reading… Two retired Walworth County sheriff's officers hired to Lake Geneva Police Department Big things expected at new small course Wisconsin Department of Transportation to host meeting about upcoming road improvement project Look Ahead: Gary Con, fundraiser to help animals & a Balloon Adventure begins in Lake Geneva New Visit Lake Geneva partner has the right look and feel for special events Look Ahead: Maple Fest plus plenty of live music, comedy & more this weekend in Lake Geneva Lake Geneva school district set to implement updated facilities and grade configuration plan Head-on crash in Burlington on Wednesday afternoon leaves one dead Experienced captains to lead team, freshmen fight for varsity innings in upcoming season. How to watch, stream, listen to Wisconsin men's basketball's NCAA Tournament opener Wisconsin men's basketball 7-footer 'doing more every day' following apparent ankle injury MLB Free Agency: Tarik Skubal could set more contract records next offseason Lake Geneva BID considers adding Oktoberfest coordinator Trump says former president had an Iran confession. Predecessors deny recent contact UW-Madison stays open, but other campuses close for Monday’s blizzard kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cfg`ah^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_g_g\`f\=>C24`];A68n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHl`___U2>Aj7:El4=:AQmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cfg`ah^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_g_g\`f\=>C24`];A68n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj2=ElQ H:5E9lQ`__TQ ^mk^2mk6>m%9:?[ C@F?5 D=:46D @7 D:=:4@? 4CJDE2=D[ 42==65 H276CD[ 2C6 E96 DE2CE:?8 A@:?E 7@C >@DE D6>:4@?5F4E@C 49:AD] k2 4=2DDlQD@FC46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@>>@?D]H:<:>65:2]@C8^H:<:^u:=6i$:=:K:F>H276C]y!vR^>65:2^u:=6i$:=:K:F>H276C]y!vQmw6336^(:<:>65:2 r@>>@?Dk^2mk^6>mk^Am k9am`] (92E :D 2 D6>:4@?5F4E@Cnk^9am kAmv6?6C2==J DA62<:?8[ E96 E6C> D6>:4@?5F4E@C C676CD E@ 2 >2E6C:2= – =:<6 D:=:4@? – E92E 42? 4@?5F4E 6=64EC:4:EJ >F49 36EE6C E92? 2? :?DF=2E@C DF49 2D 8=2DD[ 3FE ?@E 2D H6== 2D >6E2=D =:<6 4@AA6C @C 2=F>:?F>] qFE H96? A6@A=6 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_aa^_f^`c^3C:67:?8^D6>:4@?5F4E@C\3:==\4@?8C6DD\3:56?]9E>=QmE2=<:?8 23@FE D6>:4@?5F4E@CD E@52Jk^2m[ E96J 2C6 FDF2==J C676CC:?8 E@ D6>:4@?5F4E@C 49:AD]k^Am kAm%96D6 49:AD 2C6 EJA:42==J >256 7C@> E9:? D=:46D @7 D:=:4@? H:E9 4@>A=6I 4@>A@?6?ED =2:5 @FE @? E96> :? DA64:7:4 A2EE6C?D] %96D6 A2EE6C?D 4@?EC@= E96 7=@H @7 4FCC6?E FD:?8 6=64EC:42= DH:E496D – 42==65 EC2?D:DE@CD – :? >F49 E96 D2>6 H2J J@F 4@?EC@= E96 6=64EC:42= 4FCC6?E :? J@FC 9@>6 3J 7=:AA:?8 2 DH:E49 E@ EFC? @? 2 =:89E]k^Am kAm%96 5:776C6?46 36EH66? J@FC 9@FD6 2?5 2 D6>:4@?5F4E@C 49:A :D E92E D6>:4@?5F4E@C DH:E496D 2C6 6?E:C6=J 6=64EC:42= – ?@ >6492?:42= 4@>A@?6?ED E@ 7=:A – 2?5 E96 49:AD 4@?E2:? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7FEFC:D>]4@>^:3>\4C62E65\2\49:A\E96\D:K6\@7\2\7:?86C?2:=\E92E\9@=5D\b_\3:==:@?\EC2?D:DE@CDQmE6?D @7 3:==:@?D @7 DH:E496Dk^2m :? 2? 2C62 ?@E >F49 =2C86C E92? E96 D:K6 @7 2 7:?86C?2:=]k^Amk9ama] (92E 5@ D6>:4@?5F4E@CD 5@nk^9am kAm$6>:4@?5F4E@CD 2C6 9@H 6=64EC@?:4 56G:46D AC@46DD[ DE@C6 2?5 C646:G6 :?7@C>2E:@?] u@C :?DE2?46[ >6>@CJ 49:AD DE@C6 52E2 2?5 D@7EH2C6 2D 3:?2CJ 4@56[ 5:8:E2= 49:AD >2?:AF=2E6 E96 52E2 32D65 @? E96 D@7EH2C6 :?DECF4E:@?D[ 2?5 H:C6=6DD 49:AD C646:G6 52E2 7C@> 9:89\7C6BF6?4J C25:@ EC2?D>:EE6CD 2?5 4@?G6CE E96> :?E@ 6=64EC:42= D:8?2=D] %96D6 5:776C6?E 49:AD H@C< E@86E96C F?56C E96 4@?EC@= @7 D@7EH2C6] s:776C6?E D@7EH2C6 2AA=:42E:@?D A6C7@C> G6CJ 5:776C6?E E2D<D[ 3FE E96J 2== H@C< 3J DH:E49:?8 E96 EC2?D:DE@CD E92E 4@?EC@= E96 4FCC6?E]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cfg`b_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_g_g\`g\86577A];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHl`___U2>Aj7:El4=:AQmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cfg`b_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_g_g\`g\86577A];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj2=ElQ H:5E9lQ`__TQ ^mk^2mk6>m%9:D D496>2E:4 @7 2 D6>:4@?5F4E@C 49:A D9@HD >2?J 5:776C6?E >2E6C:2=D :? 5:776C6?E 4@=@CD 2?5 E96 4@>A=:42E65 =2J6C:?8 :?G@=G65 :? AC@5F4:?8 2 >@56C? 49:A] k2 4=2DDlQD@FC46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@>>@?D]H:<:>65:2]@C8^H:<:^u:=6ir>@D\49:A0DECF4EFC60:?0a___D0W6?X]DG8R^>65:2^u:=6ir>@D\49:A0DECF4EFC60:?0a___D0W6?X]DG8Qmr6A96:56?^(:<:>65:2 r@>>@?Dk^2m[ k2 4=2DDlQ=:46?D6Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J^c]_^Qmrr q*k^2mk^6>mk^Am k9amb] w@H 5@ J@F 3F:=5 2 D6>:4@?5F4E@C 49:Ank^9amkAm%96 DE2CE:?8 A@:?E 7@C E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 D6>:4@?5F4E@CD :D 2 E9:? D=:46 @7 D:=:4@? 42==65 2 H276C] %@52J’D H276CD 2C6 E96 D:K6 @7 5:??6C A=2E6D 2?5 2C6 4FE 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D4:6?465:C64E]4@>^E@A:4D^>2E6C:2=D\D4:6?46^D:=:4@?\H276CQmD:?8=6 D:=:4@? 4CJDE2=Dk^2m] |2?F724EFC6CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D6>:6?8:?66C:?8]4@>^<?@H=6586046?E6CD^>2?F724EFC:?8^AC@46DD^:@?\:>A=2?ED^Qm255 6=6>6?ED =:<6 A9@DA9@CFD 2?5 3@C@?k^2m :? 2 E9:? =2J6C 2E E96 DFC7246 @7 E96 D:=:4@? E@ :?4C62D6 E96 49:A’D 4@?5F4E:G:EJ] xE :D :? E9:D DFC7246 =2J6C H96C6 E96 EC2?D:DE@C DH:E496D 2C6 >256]k^Am kAm%96 EC2?D:DE@CD 2C6 3F:=E 3J 255:?8 E9:? =2J6CD @7 4@?5F4E:G6 >6E2=D[ :?DF=2E@CD 2?5 >@C6 D:=:4@? E@ E96 6?E:C6 H276C[ D<6E49:?8 @FE A2EE6C?D @? E96D6 =2J6CD FD:?8 2 4@>A=:42E65 AC@46DD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D6>:6?8:?66C:?8]4@>^<?@H=6586046?E6CD^>2?F724EFC:?8^=:E9@8C2A9J^Qm42==65 =:E9@8C2A9Jk^2m 2?5 E96? D6=64E:G6=J C6>@G:?8 E96D6 =2J6CD FD:?8 4@>AFE6C\4@?EC@==65 A=2D>2D @7 9:89=J C624E:G6 82D6D E@ =62G6 DA64:7:4 A2EE6C?D 2?5 DECF4EFC6D] q642FD6 E96 EC2?D:DE@CD 2C6 D@ D>2==[ :E :D >F49 62D:6C E@ 255 >2E6C:2=D :? =2J6CD 2?5 E96? 42C67F==J C6>@G6 F?H2?E65 >2E6C:2= E92? :E :D E@ A=246 >:4C@D4@A:42==J E9:? =:?6D @7 >6E2= @C :?DF=2E@CD 5:C64E=J @?E@ E96 49:A] qJ 56A@D:E:?8[ A2EE6C?:?8 2?5 6E49:?8 =2J6CD @7 5:776C6?E >2E6C:2=D 5@K6?D @7 E:>6D[ D6>:4@?5F4E@C >2?F724EFC6CD 42? 4C62E6 49:AD H:E9 E6?D @7 3:==:@?D @7 EC2?D:DE@CD A6C DBF2C6 :?49]k^Am k9amc] w@H 2C6 49:AD E@52J 5:776C6?E 7C@> E96 62C=J 49:ADnk^9amkAm%96C6 2C6 >2?J 5:776C6?46D[ 3FE E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E :D AC@323=J E96 :?4C62D6 :? E96 ?F>36C @7 EC2?D:DE@CD A6C 49:A]k^AmkAmp>@?8 E96 62C=:6DE 4@>>6C4:2= 2AA=:42E:@?D 7@C D6>:4@?5F4E@C 49:AD H6C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2>6C:42?9:DE@CJ]D:]65F^4@==64E:@?D^@3;64E\8C@FAD^92?596=5\6=64EC@?:4\42=4F=2E@CDQmA@4<6E 42=4F=2E@CDk^2m[ H9:49 3642>6 H:56=J 2G2:=23=6 :? E96 `hf_D] %96D6 62C=J 49:AD 4@?E2:?65 2 76H E9@FD2?5 EC2?D:DE@CD] x? `hgh x?E6= :?EC@5F465 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DA64ECF>]:666]@C8^ad\>:4C@49:AD\E92E\D9@@<\E96\H@C=5QmE96 7:CDE D6>:4@?5F4E@CD E@ 6I4665 2 >:==:@? EC2?D:DE@CD @? 2 D:?8=6 49:Ak^2m] %@52J[ E96 =2C86DE 49:AD 4@?E2:? >@C6 E92? d_ 3:==:@? EC2?D:DE@CD] %9:D EC6?5 :D 56D4C:365 3J H92E :D <?@H? 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H:E9\D:=:4@?\AFD965\E@\:ED\=:>:ED\H92E\H:==\A@H6C\E96\?6IE\6=64EC@?:4D\C6G@=FE:@?\ceagfQm|@@C6’D =2Hk^2m[ H9:49 D2JD E92E E96 ?F>36C @7 EC2?D:DE@CD @? 2 49:A H:== 5@F3=6 2AAC@I:>2E6=J 6G6CJ `g >@?E9D]k^Am kAmk:7C2>6 :5lQv<az)Q DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci ?@?6jQ ?2>6lQv<az)Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^52E2HC2AA6C]5H45?]?6E^v<az)^a^Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q H:5E9lQ`__TQ 96:89ElQc__Qmk^:7C2>6mk^AmkAm|@@C6’D =2H 92D 96=5 FA 7@C 7:G6 564256D] qFE :? C646?E J62CD[ E96 D6>:4@?5F4E@C :?5FDECJ 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H:E9\D:=:4@?\AFD965\E@\:ED\=:>:ED\H92E\H:==\A@H6C\E96\?6IE\6=64EC@?:4D\C6G@=FE:@?\ceagfQm925 E@ @G6C4@>6 >2;@C 492==6?86Dk^2m – >2:?=J[ 9@H E@ 4@?E:?F6 D9C:?<:?8 E96 D:K6 @7 EC2?D:DE@CD – E@ 4@?E:?F6 E9:D A246 @7 25G2?46>6?E]k^Am kAm~?6 D@=FE:@? H2D E@ DH:E49 7C@> 7=2E[ EH@\5:>6?D:@?2= =2J6CD E@ E9C66\5:>6?D:@?2= =2J6C:?8 H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9:?52H:]4@>^;@FC?2=D^26=4^a_`c^bedegh^Qm7:?\D92A65 C:586D @7 D:=:4@?k^2m AC@;64E:?8 FA 23@G6 E96 DFC7246] %96D6 bs 49:AD D:8?:7:42?E=J :?4C62D65 E96 ?F>36C @7 EC2?D:DE@CD @? 2 49:A 2?5 2C6 ?@H :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8=@36?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6^a_a`^_b^`g^a`hd_ab^_^6?^u:?u6E\%649?@=@8J\|2C<6E\:D\p?E:4:A2E65\E@\%@F49\&$s\aeg\ee\|:==:@?\3J\a_ad\vC@H:?8\2E\c_\b\rpv#\|2C<6E\#6D62C49\uFEFC6\|#u#]9E>=QmH:56DAC625 FD6k^2m[ 3FE E96J’C6 2=D@ >F49 >@C6 5:77:4F=E E@ >2?724EFC6]k^Am k9amd] s@ >@C6 4@>A=:42E65 49:AD C6BF:C6 >@C6 D@A9:DE:42E65 724E@C:6Dnk^9amkAm$:>A=J AFE[ J6D[ E96 >@C6 4@>A=:42E65 E96 49:A[ E96 >@C6 4@>A=:42E65 – 2?5 >@C6 4@DE=J – E96 724E@CJ]k^AmkAm%96C6 H2D 2 E:>6 H96? 2=>@DE 6G6CJ &]$] D6>:4@?5F4E@C 4@>A2?J 3F:=E 2?5 >2:?E2:?65 :ED @H? 724E@C:6D] qFE E@52J[ 2 ?6H 7@F?5CJ 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2K46?EC2=]4@>^DE@CJ^?6HD^=@42=^A9@6?:I^a_aa^_e^_b^D66\E2:H2?\D6>:4@?5F4E@CD\?@CE9\A9@6?:I\@77:46^fchgefb__`^Qm4@DE >@C6 E92? S`_ 3:==:@? E@ 3F:=5k^2m] ~?=J E96 =2C86DE 4@>A2?:6D 42? 277@C5 E92E <:?5 @7 :?G6DE>6?E] x?DE625[ E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 D6>:4@?5F4E@C 4@>A2?:6D D6?5 E96:C 56D:8?D E@ :?56A6?56?E 7@F?5C:6D 7@C >2?F724EFC:?8] %2:H2? $6>:4@?5F4E@C |2?F724EFC:?8 r@] 2?5 v=@32=u@F?5C:6D[ 9625BF2CE6C65 :? }6H *@C<[ 2C6 EH@ 6I2>A=6D @7 >F=E:?2E:@?2= 7@F?5C:6D E92E 3F:=5 49:AD 7@C @E96C 4@>A2?:6D] %96J 92G6 E96 6IA6CE:D6 2?5 64@?@>:6D @7 D42=6 E@ :?G6DE :? E96 9F86=J 6IA6?D:G6 E649?@=@8J C6BF:C65 E@ AC@5F46 ?6IE\86?6C2E:@? D6>:4@?5F4E@CD]k^Am kAmxC@?:42==J[ H9:=6 E96 EC2?D:DE@C 2?5 D6>:4@?5F4E@C 49:A H6C6 :?G6?E65 :? E96 &]$][ ?@ DE2E6\@7\E96\2CE D6>:4@?5F4E@C 7@F?5C:6D 2C6 4FCC6?E=J @? p>6C:42? D@:=] %96 &]$] 92D 366? 96C6 367@C6 :? E96 `hg_D H96? E96C6 H6C6 4@?46C?D E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^`hga^_a^ag^3FD:?6DD^;2A2?\D\3:8\=625\:?\>6>@CJ\49:AD]9E>=Qmy2A2? H@F=5 5@>:?2E6 E96 8=@32= >6>@CJ 3FD:?6DDk^2m] qFE H:E9 E96 ?6H=J A2DD65 rwx!$ 24E[ r@?8C6DD 92D AC@G:565 E96 :?46?E:G6D 2?5 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C ?6IE\86?6C2E:@? D6>:4@?5F4E@CD E@ 36 >2?F724EFC65 :? E96 &]$]k^AmkAm!6C92AD E96 49:AD :? J@FC ?6IE :!9@?6 H:== 36 “56D:8?65 3J pAA=6 :? r2=:7@C?:2[ 3F:=E :? E96 &$p]”k^Am kAm000k^Am kAmk6>m%C6G@C %9@C?E@? 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^6>mk^AmkAmk6>m000k^6>mk^Am Science Electric vehicle demand is so hot that Tesla owners are flipping cars like houses By Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times In this Series 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow Updated Feb 17, 2023 Lost touch with someone? Reach out – your friend will likely appreciate it more than you think Updated Feb 17, 2023 More young voters could come out to vote in November, sparked by abortion and other hot political issues Updated Feb 17, 2023 US abortion restrictions are unlikely to influence international trends, which are largely becoming more liberal 173 updates Previous Next Locations Bloomington Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Watch Now: Related Video Fed Chair Will Stay Put Until New Chair is Confirmed by Senate WisEye Morning Minute: Senate Approves Online Gaming Bill WisEye Morning Minute: Senate Approves Online Gaming Bill Rapper Afroman wins lawsuit against police over mocking their 2022 raid in viral music videos AP Rapper Afroman wins lawsuit against police over mocking their 2022 raid in viral music videos Iran war begets fertilizer and other supply cost worries for US farmers Iran war begets fertilizer and other supply cost worries for US farmers
Science Electric vehicle demand is so hot that Tesla owners are flipping cars like houses By Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times
A silicon disc, or 'wafer,' yields dozens of semiconductor chips. Steve Jurvetson/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY
.jpg#/media/File:A_Wafer_of_the_Latest_D-Wave_Quantum_Computers_(39188583425).jpg){kind=link}