What Are the Latest Applications for Semiconductor Sensors?

[ShinobiRain]

Hey guys, since this seems to be the brainiest place on the web for physics and engineering topics, I was wondering if you guys can help me out. I have to do a short encyclopedia page for my semi-conductor class about sensor applications. Now, after doing a little bit of research, I thought organic or polymer semiconductors looked good for a topic, but I can't find any information about possible sensors that could be made from these materials. So if you guys can help me out by just pointing me towards a few areas of research I could look into, that would be great.

Also, this doesn't really have to be about polymer or organic semiconductors, but could be broadened to include any new ways of using semiconductors as sensors. I just really looking to find something interesting to write about. Thanks for any help.

 

[berkeman]

Hey guys, since this seems to be the brainiest place on the web for physics and engineering topics, I was wondering if you guys can help me out. I have to do a short encyclopedia page for my semi-conductor class about sensor applications. Now, after doing a little bit of research, I thought organic or polymer semiconductors looked good for a topic, but I can't find any information about possible sensors that could be made from these materials. So if you guys can help me out by just pointing me towards a few areas of research I could look into, that would be great.

Also, this doesn't really have to be about polymer or organic semiconductors, but could be broadened to include any new ways of using semiconductors as sensors. I just really looking to find something interesting to write about. Thanks for any help.

Welcome to the PF.

I notice that your user name has gone light, so it looks like there is an issue with your account. If you changed your e-mail or made some other change to your account, you were probably sent an e-mail notification to finish the change with a login link. Please check your e-mail and also your spam filters, in case the notification e-mail got caught there. Hopefully you can find it and get your account re-activated.

And on your question, the Hall effect is use in pretty useful semiconductor sensors.

 

[ShinobiRain]

I don't know why but the site won't connect to my college e-mail account. It's annoying but whatever, I can just leave it on my hotmail.

And I do know about Hall effect sensors (definitely not as much as everyone here though), such as measuring current without needing to interrupt the circuit, but I think I am looking for more environmental sensors, closer to being current topics of research and development. If the Hall effect is still being used to create new types of sensors that's great, could you just aim me towards specific types of sensors though?

 

[MATLABdude]

How about a photodiode (you can use this as a light sensor) or a CCD? There are numerous MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) accelerometer or beam cantilever type devices, but they do not necessarily use their semiconductor properties for sensing. The frequently are made of semiconductors because that's what most of the micro/nano 'toolbox' has been geared towards working with.