Question

Why silicon and germanium are the two widely used semiconductor materials?

Answer 1

Each has 4 valence electrons, but germanium will at a given temperature have more free electrons and a higher conductivity.silicon is by far the most widely used semiconductor for electronics, partly because it can be used at much higher temperatures than germanium....

Answer 2

Explanation:

It is known that for conduction, availability of free electrons is necessary.

Both silicon and germanium are semiconductors and contains 4 valence electrons. This means that both of them exhibit properties of metals and non-metals.

Silicon is cheaper and can be used at higher temperatures to conduct heat and electricity.

On the other hand, germanium also has 4 valence electrons like silicon. But at certain temperature range germanium can have even more number of free electrons.

Due to this property of germanium it acts as a good conductor of heat and electricity. Though germanium cannot be used at much higher temperature like silicon but still it acts as a good conductor.