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 Mar 18, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky 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 :? 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A silicon disc, or 'wafer,' yields dozens of semiconductor chips. Steve Jurvetson/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY
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