Question

Name the refining method used to produce semiconductors.

Answer 1

Zone refining is used to produce semiconductors.A circular heater is fitted around a rod of impure metal and is slowly moved down the rod. At the heated zone, the rod metls and as the heater passes on, pure metal crystallizes while impurities pass into the adjacent molten part. In this way, the impurities are swept over one end of the rod, which is finally discarded. The heater may have to be moved from one end to the other more than once. Ge, Si and ga used as semiconductors are refined in this manner; gallium-arsenide and indium-antimonide are also zone refined.