Reasons for relying on silicon in electronic chip industry

In the heart of California, USA, lies an area that has become an icon of global technological innovation, Silicon Valley. This area, which is currently home to the headquarters of giant companies like Apple, Google, Adobe, and Intel, did not acquire its name by chance. The silicon – the element that is considered the cornerstone in the production of all electronic chips that can be found today – is what gave this technical valley its name. Currently, it is difficult to find an electronic device that does not contain silicon in its basic components. From smartphones to laptops, and from smart cars to advanced medical devices, silicon plays a pivotal role in the functioning of transistors and diodes that form the basis of these technological products. And since you are reading this article, you probably have a curiosity to know what makes silicon unique to the extent that it has become the backbone of the electronics industry? What are the characteristics that distinguish it from other materials?

The Importance of Silicon for the Electronics Industry

On paper, Silicon belongs to the group XIV elements in the periodic table and is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, belonging to the semiconductor group. It occupies a unique place among the elements, as it is not a metal or metal in the traditional sense like iron or aluminum, and at the same time, it is not classified as a non-metal element like carbon, oxygen, or chlorine. Instead, silicon falls in between, so it is also known as “semiconductor,” giving it unique properties that make it ideal for electronic uses.

In its pure state, Silicon appears as a solid substance with a dark gray color tending towards black, and it has some shimmer similar to metallic luster. But of course, the luster of Silicon does not compare to the clear luster of metals. This unique appearance reflects its complex chemical nature, for chemically, Silicon has four electrons in its outer shell or valence shell, giving it the ability to form strong bonds with other atoms, and this property is what makes it crucial in the field of electronics.

It may seem surprising, but the truth is that Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust after oxygen, making up about 27% of its composition. Therefore, Silicon compounds can be found everywhere, and despite the difficulty of finding it in nature in its pure state, it is considered the basic component in sand and various types of soil, and of course, it is considered an essential component in the glass industry. This vast abundance is directly reflected in its extraction and manufacturing costs. Unlike rare or precious elements, Silicon can be obtained at relatively low prices, with the cost of one kilogram usually around $3, and although the cost varies depending on the required purity, it is usually cheaper than other metals used in the industry.

This low cost has a significant impact on the electronics industry. It allows for the production of massive amounts of electronic chips at reasonable costs, contributing to reducing the prices of electronic devices sold and making them affordable to a larger consumer base. Additionally, the abundance of Silicon ensures a continuous supply, meaning that the industry does not face the risk of raw material depletion, as is the case with some other rare metals.

Let’s agree that some terms in this paragraph will seem somewhat strange, especially to non-experts in physics and electronics, but in simple terms, we can say that the classification of different materials depends from an electrical point of view on their electrical conductivity properties or the ability of the material to transport electric charges and allow electric current to flow through it. In the case of manufacturing electronic devices of different types and designs, the materials that are semiconductive in terms of electricity are the cornerstone as they have an average electrical conductivity, as they do not have very high electrical conductivity like electrically conductive materials (such as metals) and at the same time, their electrical conductivity is not very small, almost negligible like electrically insulating materials (such as plastic). Due to Silicon belonging to these materials as a semiconductor, those are some of the most important reasons that make it ideal for electronics manufacturing.

The semiconductor properties of Silicon also make it controllable in its electrical conductivity by adding specific impurities to it, in a process called doping, and this is important in the manufacturing of electronic circuits and their intricate parts like transistors and diodes, as Silicon cannot be used in its pure state to manufacture these parts, but it needs to be mixed with other elements with low proportions to enhance its electrical conductivity.

Generally, doping is used to produce two types of Silicon:
Type N
where a substance (like phosphorus) is added with an excess electron to its surface layer + To the Silicon material. هستشرىفش حشتينادايشت لفشثنشأ لؤتاثك (لامكشنك)وبأعتدهاءشثى ال
Type P or adding a substance (like boron) containing only three electrons (one less than the Silicon electrons by one electron) to the pure Silicon material. When this substance is added, four of its electrons combine with Silicon atoms, leaving the fifth electron free, which can carry the charge, thus increasing the ability to conduct electricity. The Type P is intended by adding a substance (like boron) containing only three electrons (one less than Silicon electrons by one electron) to the pure Silicon material. When this substance is added, four of its electrons combine with Silicon atoms, leaving the fifth electron free, which can carry the charge, thus increasing the ability to conduct electricity. The existence of these gaps works to increase the conductivity of Silicon as they act as positive charges

It is also worth mentioning that Silicon is usually mixed with Germanium (SiGe) to improve the properties of Silicon in terms of speed and efficiency when manufacturing transistors, as adding Germanium makes electrons move faster compared to pure Silicon. Evidence here is that the ability to control the electrical properties of Silicon precisely is what makes it essential in the manufacture of microprocessors and almost all electronic devices, from years past until now, Silicon remains the perfect solution in transistors, and no practical alternative exists today.

Silicon-containing compounds are characterized by high stability at both the chemical and thermal levels, as it is difficult for Silicon to react with other substances or the air, for example, under normal conditions, meaning that what is made from Silicon is expected to remain as it is, retaining its properties for long periods without deterioration, and this is indeed what happens. Silicon also has a relatively high melting point; it remains in a solid state until a temperature of 1410 degrees Celsius. This property allows it to withstand the high temperatures that may arise during the operation of complex electronic devices. Additionally, Silicon retains its semiconducting properties even at high temperatures, making it suitable for use in a wide range of environmental conditions.

These stability factors translate into the fact that devices made of Silicon usually have a long assumed lifespan and a performance that is relied upon. Electronic chips made from Silicon can work for many years without significant deterioration in their performance, which is vital, particularly in sensitive uses such as medical device manufacturing or aviation systems.

As we mentioned, Silicon is not the only semiconductor material, as there are materials like carbon and Germanium that belong to the semiconductor materials, but carbon is too brittle when used alone, and Germanium is extremely expensive compared to the low-cost of Silicon as it is less abundant. Although, at one time, it was a strong competitor to Silicon in the manufacturing of semiconductors, and Germanium was the material used in creating the first transistor in 1947 but it does not have the chemical stability feature as Silicon, as it is more chemically reactive than Silicon at normal temperatures.

Like everything, Silicon, despite all its advantages, is not perfect. Scientists believe that there is room for improvement, especially in terms of heat dissipation. Today, it can be said that Graphene is the only competitor to Silicon. Since its discovery in 2004, Graphene has attracted significant interest as a potential alternative to Silicon in future electronics. In principle, Graphene is an element of carbon, but it differs from ordinary carbon – which we see in coal, for example – as it has a distinctive crystal structure, as it is made in very thin layers only one atomic thickness. This makes it possible to produce it in smaller sizes than any other known material.

Graphene has several impressive properties, as it outperforms Silicon in terms of electrical conductivity to a level that makes it the best known electrical conductor to date. Despite its extreme thinness, Graphene is stronger than steel by hundreds of times. The ability to manufacture it in very small sizes makes it conducive to developing future electronic chips that require more transistor density by making them smaller in size.

However, Graphene does not pose a real