The key difference between semiconductor and superconductor is that semiconductors have an electrical conductivity that is between the conductivity of a conductor and an insulator whereas superconductors have an electrical conductivity that is higher than that of the conductor.
An electrical conductor is a type of substance that allows the electrical current to flow through it. Semiconductors and superconductors are two types of electrical conductors. They are different from each other according to their conductivity.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Semiconductor
3. What is a Superconductor
4. Side by Side Comparison – Semiconductor vs Superconductor in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is a Semiconductor?
A semiconductor is a type of conductor which has a conductivity value between the values of an insulator and a conductor. That means; the electrical conductivity of a semiconductor is moderate to that of a conductor. These are usually crystalline solids that have applications in various fields such as the production of diodes, transistors, integrated circuits, etc. Generally, the conductivity of a semiconductor is sensitive to the temperature illuminations, magnetic fields, impurities in the semiconductor material, etc.
There are elemental semiconductor materials we can observe in the periodic table. These elements include silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te). Moreover, there can be various different semiconductors containing two or more chemical elements in combination. For example, Gallium arsenide contains gallium and arsenic. However, pure silicon is the most common semiconductor in the electrical industry, and it is the most important element for the production of integrated circuits.
Figure 01: A Silicon Crystal
Generally, semiconductors are single crystals. Their atoms are arranged in a 3D pattern. When considering a silicon crystal, each silicon atom is surrounded by four other silicon atoms. These atoms have covalent chemical bonds between them. The energy gap between the conduction band and valence band of a silicon crystal is called the band gap. For semiconductors, the band gap is usually between 0.25 to 2.5 eV.
What is a Superconductor?
Superconductors are materials that have electrical conductivity value above the conductivity value of a conductor. It can be a chemical element or a compound that dramatically loses its electrical resistance when cooled below a certain temperature. Therefore, a superconductor allows the flow of electrical energy without any energy loss. This energy flow is called supercurrent. However, it is very difficult to produce superconductors. The temperature at which these materials lose their electrical resistance is called the critical temperature or Tc. All the materials we know cannot turn into superconductors below this temperature. Materials having a Tc of their own can turn into superconductors.
Figure 02: Superconductor
There are two types of superconductors as type I and type II. The type I superconductor materials are conductors at room temperature and become superconductors when cooled below their Tc. Type II materials are not good conductors at room temperature. They gradually transform into superconductors upon cooling. The band gap of superconductors is usually above 2.5eV.
What is the Difference Between Semiconductor and Superconductor?
The key difference between semiconductor and superconductor is that semiconductors have an electrical conductivity that is between the conductivity of a conductor and an insulator whereas superconductors have an electrical conductivity that is higher than that of the conductor. Moreover, the band gap of a semiconductor is between 0.25 and 2.5 eV while the band gap of a superconductor is above 2.5 eV.
Below is a summary of the difference between semiconductor and superconductor.
Summary – Semiconductor vs Superconductor
Semiconductors and superconductors are two types of electrical conductors. They are different from each other according to their conductivity. The key difference between semiconductor and superconductor is that semiconductors have an electrical conductivity that is between the conductivity of a conductor and an insulator whereas superconductors have an electrical conductivity that is higher than that of the conductor.
Reference:
1. “Semiconductor.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 25 Jan. 2019, Available here.
2. “Semiconductor.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 May 2020, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Silicon” By Jurii – (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Levitating superconductor” By Julian Litzel (Jullit31) – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia