Question

Why only silicon & germanium atoms are used in semiconductor why not carbon it also has a 4 valency or any other atom of that group?

Answer 1

Dear student,

silicon and germanium are partially conducting in room temperature

but carbon is not conducting at at room temperature. it needs very high temperature, of order of several 100s of degrees in order for it to start conducting.

Hence for practical purpose,

Carbon or any other element is not used. Also Silicon and Germanium give best performance in the operating temperatures and also can operate high temperatures. Silicon is more prevalent in semiconductor industry than germanium because it can operate at higher temperatures than germanium also. This selection depends on favourable physical properties of Si and Ge.

Regards