In this article, I will talk about semiconductors history, from their beginnings in science to their role as the cornerstone of contemporary electronics.
The delicate balance of electrical conductivity within semiconductors has advanced technology to create computers, smartphones, and even solar panels.
Appreciating the history of these technologies aids in understanding the great impact they have had on our lives today.
Introduction To Semiconductors
Semiconductors lie midway between conductors, such as metals, and insulators like glass in terms of electrical conductivity. Their current controlling feature makes them the backbone of modern electronics ranging from computers and smartphones to solar panels and medical devices.
The history of semiconductors is an extraordinary tale of scientific discovery, technology invention, innovation, industrial transformation that exists for over a century.
Foundations of Semiconductor Science from 19th Century
The groundwork for what would become semiconductor science started in the 19th century. In 1833, English scientist Michael Faraday noticed that silver sulfide’s conductivity increased with temperature, which was not the case with most metals.
We now know this was the first documented instance of semiconductor-type behavior. German physicist Karl Ferdinand Braun later discovered the metal-sulfide contacts’ rectifying effect in 1874, meaning current could flow more easily in one direction than the other. This principle became essential for diodes in future electronic devices.
First Radio Devices and The Crystal Detector
Semiconductors found their practical use by early radio technology in the 20th century. Early radio receiver “crystal detectors” used mineral crystals like galena (lead sulfide) to rectify radio signals.
Jagadish Chandra Bose and Greenleaf Whittier Pickard were some inventors who helped improve these systems. While rudimentary compared to today’s technology, these detectors laid down what we consider modern day semiconductor circuits.
Quantum Mechanics and the Theoretical Leap
The understanding of semiconductors marked a significant turning point with the development of quantum mechanics in the 1920s and 1930s. Felix Bloch, Alan Wilson, and Walter Schottky made strides in explaining electron interactions within crystals, paving the way for solid-state physics.
Their work also clarified why certain materials have semiconducting properties—because they contain energy bands and allow control over current flow via doping (adding impurities to a pure semiconductor).
The Birth of the Transistor In 1947
Arguably the most groundbreaking moment in semiconductor technology occurred at Bell Laboratories in 1947. Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley developed a point-contact transistor using germanium–the first working transistor.
This device could boost electrical signals like a vacuum tube but was much more compact, solid, and resilient. The trio shared a Nobel Prize in Physics for this invention awarded to them in 1956 which also marked the beginning of boom in electronics.
Silicon’s dominance in the 1950s and 1960s
Even though early transistors made use of germanium silicon, researchers quickly figured out that silicon had much better properties like greater thermal stability and the capability to form a good quality oxide layer crucial for integrated circuits.
Companies such as Fairchild Semiconductor which was started by a group of engineers called “the traitorous eight” helped make the switch to silicon. The same time period experienced the birth of Silicon Valley alongside other iconic companies such as Intel.
The increasing relevance of integrated circuits
In Texas instruments, forward thinking Jack Kilby was working on developing and IC and at Fairchild Semiconductor Robert Noyce worked on one too making them both pioneers in this field.
These devices enabled gigantic leaps in technology – many transistors along with other components could be manufactured and packed together onto single chips
Which drastically reduced the size while copying circuits increased their production making mass manufacturing possible. With these advances modern computers, smart calculators and even the smartphones we enjoy today were invented.
Moore’s law along with further digital progress
Intel’s co founder Gordon Moore made an observation in 1965 that Chip transistors doubled every two years or so marking what later became loon ‘Moores Law’.
For years this marked fast growth in economy side by side with rapid reevaluation of digital technologies such as creation of more efficient powered systems alongside newer and modernized cheaper alternatives.
Semiconductors became central tools necessary for completing nearly every daily task people did during those times.
Contemporary Period: From AI to Renewable Energy
Currently, semiconductor technology is evolving with the new 3-nanometer chips, quantum computing, and even neuromorphic processors. Renewables cells like solar panels, electric powered vehicles alongside smart power grids are made possible through the usage of semiconductors refining technologies.
Conclusion
Innovative breakthroughs in science stem from curiosity, formulating intense international partnerships closes the gap between what was once impossible. Such is the case for semiconductors full history – experiments conducted in the 19th century to modern world supercomputers.
It is inevitable that as further research is done along with modified uses being developed within different fields arise around the globe these fairly small materials will shape humanity’s future.
FAQ
When were semiconductors first discovered?
The semiconductor effect was first observed in 1833 by Michael Faraday, who noticed that silver sulfide’s conductivity increased with heat. This unusual behavior was a key early indicator of semiconductor properties.
What was the first practical use of semiconductors?
Semiconductors were first used practically in early radio technology through “crystal detectors” in the early 1900s. These detectors used minerals like galena to receive and rectify radio signals.
When and where was the first transistor invented?
The first transistor was invented in 1947 at Bell Laboratories by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley. This invention marked the beginning of the semiconductor era in electronics.
