Semiconductors vs Superconductors: Difference and Comparison

Key Takeaways

1. Semiconductors have moderate electrical conductivity, while superconductors exhibit zero resistance to the flow of electric current below a critical temperature.
2. Superconductors demonstrate the Meissner effect, expelling magnetic fields from their interior and exhibiting perfect diamagnetism, whereas semiconductors do not exhibit this behavior.
3. Semiconductors are extensively used in electronics and information technology, while superconductors find applications in areas such as MRI machines, particle accelerators, high-speed trains, and superconducting quantum computing.

What are Semiconductors?

Semiconductors are materials that have electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. They are made of materials like silicon or germanium, doped with impurities to control their electrical properties.

Semiconductors are essential to electronic devices such as transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits. They are used in various applications, including computers, smartphones, televisions, medical equipment, and other electronic devices.

The properties of semiconductors are such that they can be manipulated to control the flow of electrons through them. This makes them a key component of modern electronics, as they can switch and amplify electronic signals and store and process digital information.

Semiconductors have revolutionized the electronics industry, making it possible to create smaller, faster, and more efficient devices. The development of the integrated circuit of multiple semiconductor devices on a single chip was a major milestone in the history of electronics. It paved the way for the development of modern computers and other electronic devices.

What are Superconductors?

Superconductors are materials with zero electrical resistance when cooled to extremely low temperatures, below a critical temperature (Tc). In other words, they allow the flow of electric current with no energy loss, unlike conventional conductors that dissipate energy as heat.

Superconductors were first discovered in 1911, and since then, they have been extensively researched and developed for various applications. The most common superconducting materials are metals such as copper, aluminum, and niobium and alloys like magnesium diboride. Superconductors allow the flow of electric current with no energy loss, making them highly efficient for power transmission and storage.

Superconductors expel magnetic fields from their interiors, which makes them useful for shielding against magnetic interference. Superconducting devices can operate at extremely high speeds and consume very little power, making them ideal for digital signal processing and quantum computing applications.

Difference Between semiconductors and superconductors

1. Semiconductors have electrical conductivity between a conductor and an insulator, while superconductors have zero electrical resistance below a certain critical temperature.
2. Semiconductors work effectively at room temperature, while superconductors require extremely low temperatures to maintain their superconducting state.
3. Superconductors allow the flow of electric current with zero resistance, making them highly efficient for power transmission and storage. At the same time, semiconductors have some resistance and are less efficient in energy loss.
4. Semiconductors are used extensively in electronic devices such as computers, televisions, and medical equipment, while superconductors are used for applications such as power transmission, magnetic levitation, and quantum computing.
5. Semiconductors are made of silicon and germanium, doped with impurities to control their electrical properties. In contrast, superconductors are made of metals like copper and alloys like magnesium diboride, which have unique properties that allow zero electrical resistance.

Comparison Between semiconductors and superconductors

Parameters of Comparison	Semiconductors	Superconductors
Electrical conductivity	Between that of a conductor and an insulator	Zero electrical resistance below a critical temperature
Temperature requirements	Work effectively at room temperature	Require extremely low temperatures to maintain a superconducting state
Energy efficiency	Some resistance and less efficient in terms of energy loss	Highly efficient for power transmission and storage
Applications	Used extensively in electronic devices	Used for power transmission, magnetic levitation, and quantum computing
Material properties	Typically made of materials like silicon and germanium	Typically made of metals and alloys with unique properties

References

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed074p1090
2. https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/RevModPhys.36.211

Last Updated : 14 October, 2023