Semiconductors: History and Applications

The development of semiconductor physics and technology has led to significant changes in our daily life and perhaps today it is impossible to live without them. Semiconductors are now widely used in many aspects of modern human civilization, including energy, sensing, electronics, biomedical, imaging, water treatment, etc. This chapter will cover semiconductors’ definition, characteristics, history, and fundamental principles, emphasizing their band structure, physics, and classification. Following that, the applications of semiconductors, particularly in the energy, electronics, biomedical, and photocatalysis processes will be discussed. Following that, heterostructured photocatalysts as a possible way to increase photocatalysis performance and introduce different types of heterostructured semiconductors will be reviewed. Then the manufacturing process and semiconductor devices are discussed. The final section of the chapter will go over the effect of nanotechnology on semiconductor properties and the future trend of semiconductors. This chapter attempts to present a brief and comprehensive understanding of the history, physics, and practical application of semiconductors, with a focus on heterogeneous compounds for photocatalytic applications.