SEMICONDUCTOR

MATERIALS
Created and Presented by
Doren Nedrick

The Basic Principles Of Heat

Sensitive Devices
A

change in temperature results in a

change in its resistance depending on
the temperature coefficient. For a
device with a negative temperature
coefficient (most common), its
resistance decreases as the
temperature increases as shown by the
resistance-temperature graph in fig. 1

Thermistor
Thermistors

also called thermal

resistors are semiconductor devices
whose use as transducers is due to the
fact that their resistance changes
when their temperature increases.
There are three types namely: the rodshaped, disc-shaped and the bead
shaped and its symbol is

 Thermistors

are used for the

measurement and control of
temperature, being heated either
externally or internally by the current
they carry.
Used as a means of sensing
temperature change. Commonly found
embedded in motor windings to detect
overheating.

Thermocouple
Thermocouple

is a thermoelectric
device for measuring or sensing
temperature difference, consisting of
two wires of dissimilar metals
connected at two points, between
which a voltage is developed in
proportion to any temperature
difference. Its application therefore is
to measure temperatures accurately

Semiconductors
An

insulator is any material that

opposes the flow of electrons (current).
A conductor is any material which allows
for free flow of electrons (current).
Semi means half.
A semiconductor therefore is a material
that has a conductivity level somewhere
between the extremes of an insulator
and a conductor.

 An

atom is made up tiny particles. Two of

these particles, the electron and the proton
are important to our studies. Electrons move
around the center, or nucleus, of an atom in
paths. These paths are usually called shells

 An

atom can have several shells around the

nucleus.
Each of these shells can have only up to a
certain number of electrons. The number is
called the quota of the shell.
The first shell can hold two electrons while
the second, third, fourth and so on can hold
eight.
When every shell of an atom contains its
quota of electrons, the atom is said to be in
stable condition.

 The

proton carries a positive charge while

the electron carries negative. Recall a
material with a lot of electrons free to
move are called conductors and a material
that have a shortage is called an insulator.
For semiconductor it is somewhere
between that (having just about half its
quota) eg silicon and germanium - having
four (4) valence electrons,

Crystal Lattice of Silicon

The resistance of a semiconductor decreases with temperature rise

 Work

in progress