Semiconductor

Semiconductor are materials that lies between conductors (like metals) and insulators (such as ceramics) in terms of conductivity. In this article, you will learn definition, classification, properties, intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductor, p type and n type semiconductor, uses, etc.

This article will provide key insights for GS Paper-III Science and Technology section and GS Paper-II Polity and Governance section of UPSC IAS Exam.

Table of Content

• Table of Content              
• What is Semiconductor?              
• Properties of semiconductor
• How are Semiconductors created?           
• Types of Semiconductors
• Difference between n type and p type semiconductor
• Difference between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductor
• What is a semiconductor chip?  
• Applications of Semiconductors
• What is India Semiconductor Mission?   
• Objectives of India Semiconductor Mission
• Schemes introduced under the India Semiconductor Mission
• Conclusion         
• Frequently Asked Questions       
• Reference           

What is Semiconductor?

• It is a material that lies between conductors (like metals) and insulators (such as ceramics) in terms of conductivity.
• It conducts electricity only under certain conditions but not others.
• It plays a crucial role in electronic devices.
• They can be either pure elements for example silicon, germanium, or compounds such as gallium arsenide.
• The conductance of semiconductor varies as it depends on the:
  • Current or voltage applied to a control electrode .
  • Intensity of irradiation by infrared (IR), visible light, ultraviolet or X-rays.
• Silicon is the most used semiconductor in the world.

Properties of semiconductor:

• Semiconductor devices display many useful properties such as passing current more easily in one direction than the other.
• It shows variable resistance or resistivity, and are sensitive to light.
  • Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit. 
  • Resistivity is a property of the material to oppose the current flow in an electrical circuit. 
• Effect of temperature on semiconductor: the resistance of the semiconductors decreases as the temperature increases which leads to increased flow of electricity and vice-versa.
• It has variable electrical conductivity which can be changed via many techniques.

How are Semiconductors created?

• By introducing small amounts of impurities through a process called doping, the conductivity of semiconductors can be altered.
• A semiconductor junction is created when two differently doped regions exist in the same crystal.
• The behaviour of charge carriers such as electrons, ions, and electron holes, at these junctions forms the basis of diodes, transistors, integrated circuit (IC) and other electronics item.

Types of Semiconductors:

On the basis of charges:

• An N-type semiconductor carries current in the form of negatively charged electrons, i.e., electrons are majority charge carriers whereas holes are minority charge carriers.
• A P-typesemiconductor carries current in the form of electron deficiencies also known as holes, i.e., holes are majority charge carriers whereas electrons are minority charge carriers.
  • Hole has a positive electric charge which is equal and opposite to the charge on an electron.

On the basis of doping:

• Intrinsic or pure semiconductor is a type of undoped semiconductor that is a pure semiconductor without any significant dopant speciespresent.
  • Examples: Silicon and Germanium.
• Extrinsic or impure semiconductor is a type of doped semiconductor that are doped with specific impurities in order to modify its electrical properties.
  • Examples: Silicon and Germanium doped with Aluminium, Phosphorus, Arsenic.

Difference between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductor:

What is a semiconductor chip?

• Semiconductor chips are thin slices of silicon with complexcomponents arranged in specific patterns which help control the flow of current using electrical switches or transistors.
  • Semiconductor switches are entirely electrical and no mechanical components to switch it on or off.
•  Semiconductor chips contain tens of billions of switches in a very small area.

Applications of Semiconductors:

• Semiconductors are fundamental to the production of electronic devices such as radios, TVs, computers, video games, and even limited medical diagnostic equipment.
  • Earlier, vacuum tube technology used to produce some of these devices, but the semiconductor technology has made those devices smaller, faster, and dependable.
• Memory: Memory chips function as temporary data storehouses by facilitating the exchange of information from the CPU of computerdevices.
  • Semiconductor memory is a type of semiconductor device that can store data.
• Microprocessors: stores essential logic for task execution and are central processing units in computers.
• Commodity Integrated Circuits or standard chips: are mass-produced for regular processing needs.
• Complex System on a Chip: involves integrating an entire system’s capabilities into a single chip.

What is India Semiconductor Mission?

• The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) has been established as an independent business division within Digital India Corporation.
• ISM isendowed with administrative and financial powers in order to boost the growth of the India Semiconductor ecosystem, ranging across manufacturing, packaging, and design.
• ISM is guided by an advisory board comprising renowned global experts in the semiconductor field to ensure the effective implementation of the mission.
• ISM while acting as the nodal agency, ensures a seamless and coherent development of India’s semiconductor and manufacturing ecosystem.
• The Semi–Conductor Laboratory in Mohal, Haryana will be modernised as a brownfield Fab.

Objectives of India Semiconductor Mission:

• Devise a long-term strategy, in collaboration with government ministries, departments, agencies, industry, and academia in order to develop sustainable semiconductor and display manufacturing facilities along with a robust semiconductor design ecosystem in the country.
• Facilitate the adoption of secure microelectronics and cultivate a semiconductor supply chain ranging across raw materials, specialty chemicals, gases, and manufacturing equipment.
• Foster substantial growth in the Indian semiconductor design industry by providing essential support, such as Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, foundry services, and other mechanisms, to assist early-stage start-ups.
• Promote and facilitate the generation of indigenous Intellectual Property (IP) in the semiconductor domain.
• Encourage, enable, and incentivize Technology Transfer (ToT) initiatives.
• Establish effective mechanisms to capitalize on economies of scale within the Indian semiconductor and display industry.
• Facilitate research in the semiconductor and display industry, through revolutionary technologies, using grants, global collaborations, and other avenues in academia, research institutions, and industry, including the establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoEs).
• Encourage collaborations and partnership programs with national and international agencies, industries, and institutions to drive collaborative research, commercialization, and skill development endeavors.

Schemes introduced under the India Semiconductor Mission:

• ‘Modified Scheme for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India’: extends a fiscal support of 50% of the project cost on the pari-passu basis (equal basis) for setting up Silicon complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) based Semiconductor Fab in India.
  • It will help attract investments for setting up semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities in the country.
  • It will further strengthen the electronics manufacturing ecosystem and a trusted value chain.
• ‘Modified Scheme for setting up of Display Fabs in India’:  extends fiscalsupport of 50% of Project Cost on pari-passubasis for setting up of Display Fabs in India.
  • It will help attract investments for manufacturing TFT LCD or AMOLED based display panels in the country.
• ‘Modified Scheme for setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors Fab / Discrete Semiconductors Fab and Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) / Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities in India’.
  • It extends a fiscal support of 50% of the Capital Expenditure on pari-passu basis.
  • The support will help in setting up- Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics (SiPh) / Sensors (including MEMS) Fab/ Discrete Semiconductor Fab and Semiconductor ATMP / OSAT facilities in India.
• ‘Semicon India Future Design: Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme’: financial incentives for design infrastructuresupport across various stages of development of semiconductor design.
  • This includes- Integrated Circuits, Chipsets, System on Chips, Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design.
• ‘Product Design Linked Incentive’: financial incentives for-
  • Up to 50% of the eligible expenditure subject to a ceiling of ₹15 Crore per application
  • “Deployment Linked Incentive” of 6% to 4% of net sales turnover for 5 years subject to a ceiling of ₹30 Crore per application.

Conclusion

The advantages of semiconductor includes that they are shock proof and its conductivity can be changed as per its utility. India has many manufacturing companies in the field of semiconductor that can help India become one of the leading producers of chips. Many recent developments such as Vedanta semiconductors companies tying up with the Foxconn of Taiwan in order to establish chip manufacturing plant in Gujarat and Micron semiconductor company, US’ largest semiconductor memory, setting up semiconductor plant in Gujarat, are some of the positive developments in this regard. The semiconductor shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic enforces the need of manufacturing it in India in order to reduce the dependency on one country.

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FAQs(frequently asked question)