Definition of semiconductor

The word "semiconductor" originates from the field of physics and electronics. The term was first used in the 1840s by French physicist Jean-Baptiste Dumas, who described materials that could conduct electricity, but not as well as metals, and yet could not be considered insulators. In 1861, German physicist Wilhelm Eduard Weber further developed the concept, dividing materials into conductors, insulators, and a third category, which he called "semi-conductors," due to their intermediate conductivity. By the 1920s, the term "semiconductor" gained widespread acceptance, particularly with the discovery of germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si), two elements that exhibit semi-conductivity and are now crucial components in modern electronics. Today, semiconductors play a vital role in the development of electronic devices, from computers and smartphones to solar panels and medical equipment.