Semiconductors

• A semiconductoris a material which has an electrical conductivity value falling between that of a conductor, such as copper, and an insulator, such as glass.

• Its resistivity falls as its temperature rises; metals behave in the opposite way.
• Its conductingproperties may be altered in useful ways by introducing impurities ("doping") into the crystal structure.
• When two differently doped regions exist in the same crystal, a semiconductor junction is created.
• Semiconductor devices can display a range of different useful properties, such as passing current more easily in one direction than the other, showing variable resistance, and having sensitivity to light or heat.
• Because the electrical properties of a semiconductor material can be modified by doping and by the application of electrical fields or light, devices made from semiconductors can be used for amplification, switching, and energy conversion.
• Doping greatly increases the number of charge carriers within the crystal.
• When a doped semiconductor contains free holes, it is called "p-type", and when it contains free electrons, it is known as "n-type".
• The semiconductor materials used in electronic devices are doped under precise conditions to control the concentration and regions of p- and n-type dopants.
• A single semiconductor device crystal can have many p- and n-type regions; the p–n junctions between these regions are responsible for the useful electronic behavior.
• Using a hot-point probe, one can determine quickly whether a semiconductor sample is p- or n-type.

India semiconductor mission:

• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is a specialized and independent Business Division within the Digital India Corporation that aims to build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

ISM has been proposed with the objective to:

• Formulate a comprehensive long-term strategy for developing sustainable semiconductors and display manufacturing facilities and semiconductor design eco-system in the country in consultation with the Government ministries/departments/agencies, industry, and academia.
• Facilitate the adoption of secure microelectronics and developing a trusted semiconductor supply chain, including raw materials, specialty chemicals, gases, and manufacturing equipment.
• Enable a multi-fold growth of the Indian semiconductor design industry by providing requisite support in the form of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, foundry services and other suitable mechanisms for early-stage startups.
• Promote and facilitate indigenous Intellectual Property (IP) generation.
• Encourage, enable and incentivize Transfer of Technologies (ToT).
• Establish suitable mechanisms to harness economies of scale in Indian semiconductor and display industry.
• Enable cutting-edge research in semiconductors and display industry including evolutionary and revolutionary technologies through grants, global collaborations and other mechanisms in academia/research institutions, industry, and through establishing Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
• Enable collaborations and partnership programs with national and international agencies, industries and institutions for catalyzing collaborative research, commercialization and skill development.