How to differentiate conductors and semiconductors?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on how to differentiate between conductors and semiconductors, particularly in the context of a specific material, metallic glass (Zr55Ni5Al10Cu30). Participants explore the implications of electrical resistivity and the effects of heat treatment on material properties.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether electrical resistivity alone is sufficient to classify a material as a conductor or semiconductor, noting that some metallic conductors exhibit high resistivity.
  • The same participant describes the behavior of metallic glass under heat treatment, suggesting that the steady decline in resistivity might indicate semiconductor behavior, but seeks clarification on whether this is exclusive to semiconductors.
  • Another participant provides a definition of semiconductors, indicating that they have resistance greater than conductors but less than insulators, and suggests that the ability to dope the material to create electronic components could be a criterion for classification.
  • A later reply mentions the differences in the excitation spectrum between metals and semiconductors, implying that the presence of a discontinuity at the Fermi level is a distinguishing feature.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the criteria for classifying materials as conductors or semiconductors, with no consensus reached on the definitive characteristics or tests needed for classification.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of defining materials based on resistivity and the potential overlap between properties of conductors and semiconductors, indicating that definitions may depend on specific contexts or applications.

y4ku24
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Hello everyone,

I have a (simple?) question: How do you differentiate a material to be a conductor or a semiconductor? It is just only by examining the material's electrical resistivity/conductivity whether it is low or high? Because I have heard that even some metallic conductors have high resistivity.

For you information, I am currently working with a material called metallic glass, with a compound of Zr55Ni5Al10Cu30. It has high resistivity at room temperature and as heat treatment is applied the resistivity steadily decreases. But up to a certain point, it showed an abrupt decline (due to crystallization).

My point is, is the steady decline due to heat treatment be sufficient evident enough to conclude that the material is a semiconductor? In other words, does this behavior resides ONLY in semiconductors, and no conductors behave the same?

Or is there any other experiment(s) that I can do to justify whether the material is a semiconductor or not?

Thank you in advance.

y4ku24
 
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y4ku24 said:
Or is there any other experiment(s) that I can do to justify whether the material is a semiconductor or not?

Thank you in advance.

y4ku24

By definition a semiconductor is a substance that has more resistance that a conductor and less than an insulator, but of course common resistors have this property as well, so that's not the complete answer. Since the common usage of the word semiconductor is used to refer to a substance that can potentially create an active electronic component, I would say that if you can dope it and make a diode out of it, then you could classify it as a semiconductor. That's not to say however that if you can't do this you still don't have a semiconductor, but if you can, I'd say you could. This is not a completely qualified opinion but hopefully it's a starting point.
 
Thank you Buckethead for the lead.
 
In a metal, the single particle excitation spectrum has a discontinuity; the fermi level, In a semiconductor I think it doesn't.
 

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