Materials that have the resistance levels between those of a conductor and an insulator are called semiconductors. They are quite common, found in almost all electronic devices. Examples of semiconductor materials are germanium, selenium, and silicon. Silicon is used in most semiconductors for computer and electronic components, as is it considered to be the best semiconductor material.
A semiconductor’s quality is measured as a value of electrical conductivity, which is how well a material conducts electricity. As the temperature rises in a semiconductor, its conductivity increases due to a decrease in resistance in the material.
Many companies manufacture semiconductors, including Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba.
Components and devices that use semiconductors
Examples of components and devices that utilize semiconductors and semiconductor materials include the following:
See our semiconductor companies page for a list of semiconductor companies.
- Integrated circuit
- Keyboard and mouse
- Monitor
- Processor
- Memory chip
- Transistor
Conductor, Electronics terms, Insulator, Nonconductor
