Why silicon is mostly used as a semiconductor material in electronic industry as compared to germanium and other semiconductor material?

Answer 1

Mostly because of their cost but also because silicon transistor have faster switching properties and are far more resistant to damage by heat. Silicon transistor also have a much wider operating band.

Answer 2

The primary reason is silicon dioxide is an insoluble insulator that protects junction edges from contamination and is easy to form directly on the surface of a silicon wafer, while germanium dioxide is a water soluble crumbly material making it unsuitable as either an insulator or protection of junction edges. This makes germanium ICs nearly impossible to make and when made (typically using vapor deposited silicon dioxide instead of direct formed) much more expensive than silicon ICs. As computers use so many ICs you want the cheapest ones possible for the requirements.

Answer 3

Silicon has many electronic and processing properties that make it preferable to germanium:

1. capable of operating at higher junction temperature without damage (150C vs. 60C)
2. less temperature drift caused by creation of minority carriers
3. stable insoluble insulating oxide that can be used to passivate junction edges (germanium's oxide is unstable and water soluble)
4. lower packaging costs (passivated silicon devices may use plastic, unpassivated germanium devices must use hermetically sealed metal or glass to prevent contamination)
5. availability and cost to obtain (silicon is present in all sand and rocks, germanium isn't)
6. etc.

Carbon in the form of diamond thinfilms or nanotubes should be even better if the fabrication issues can be resolved as it can operate at junction temperatures up to 600C without damage.

Answer 4

Silicon is mostly used as a semiconductor material because it has a cloud of free electrons in its outer electron shell and can take part in covalent bonding.

Answer 5

others can also be used but since these elements are found in very large quantities and are cheap so these are preferred