Why are most (all?) integrated circuits made out of silicon?

[Oddball]

Just like the title says, why use silicon all the time? I know it is a semi-conductor, I know it is a very abundant element, but there must be a reason why all the chips are silicon instead of say carbon or germanium, which both have simular physical props. Is it just cheaper to use then other elements/compounds? I am looking at this from a chemists point of view, not a comp sci stand point. Thanks.

[RamboPreacher]

germanium is sometimes used, as I understand, and carbon does not hav eth eproperties necessary, again, aas I understand. Silicon is not only abundant, but is also very durable (at that scale)

[Dayspring]

I've heard of places trying to use copper, but they mention something about "contamination" and I don't really comprehend the rest. It may be that copper and silicon just don't mix.

Where's Miscue when you need him?

[athomas]

Its been a long time since I studied this. Silicon is inexpensive and readily avaliable. The stable and controllable electrical properties make it very easy to use.

[Skreemer]

The contamination comes in when they do etching and polishing during the process of making the chips, be it momory or processors or whatever. There are many systems in place and available to semi-conductor communities to either "handle" or recycle the water solution (known as slurry) so that it is cleaner on the way out than the water was on the way in. (in most plants, at least fabrication plants 9, 7, and 11 in Alburquerque NM, they had to purify the water before it could be used.)

The reason they don't use germanium is that it isn't quite as abundant or cheap and a little more difficult to handle it's conductive properties. The semi-conductor companies are heavily watching the birth of a new semi-conductor market here in the US that started in Florida and Massachuesettes. It's the creation of man made "perfect" diamonds. The place in forida is making what are more or less "gems" while the place in Massachuesettes is actually making diamond "bricks". These diamonds can handle heat transfer and can thier properties controlled easily to make excellent semi-conductors. If I can find the articles I had on it I'll post em.

[PissedGodzilla]

doesn't silicon also have better heat dispensing properties that copper? not sure about germanium, but i think germanium is somewhat more expensive to get....

[jefbarn]

Actually, Galium Arsenide is also sometimes used. The reason silicon is used is because it is easily doped and easy to produce.

[Skreemer]

here's one of the articles I found on the "new" diamonds.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/diamond_pr.html

[Miscue]

Because it attracts a lot of attention. They are squishy, and feels kinda like flesh. It's pretty safe now, they don't leak like they used to. Wait... you said circuits?

[zacbot]

ha ha..wow..

[Army]

Because wood chips work best in the garden.

[devildog]

silicon is easiest to dope. dope means they chemically mix in something to change the properties of it. boron is a comon dope, and i cant remember the other one. thats the main reason anyway. copper cant be used in place of silicon because copper is conductive. very conductive actually. you want to use something that can be changed to be conductive and not conductive.

[cphilip]

I understand the best chips are made with Potato's but... thats just a rumor

And I hear someone said that Crack Sand is highly desirable as a source of Silicone for Microchips. So next time you get back from the beach... there might be a small fortune in your pants.