We use silicon Germenium as semiconductor device. But why not Carbon? It has also 4 valance electrons. I just want an atomic explanation of this question.
semiconductors are silicon and germanium. they are like metals but their highest occupied electron shells/orbitals do not overlap. they require a little energy to exite electrons into the conduction band.
Small amounts of group 3 or 5 elements can be changed to dramatically alter conductivity.
the structure of carbon allotropes, such as diamond and graphite, do not allow this. Diamond is a covalent network with no free electrons. Graphite is layers of hexagonal carbon networks with electrons allowed to flow in one directing only. Adding these metal impurities, if it can be done easily, will not have the same effect
Semiconductor
Re: Semiconductor
