The label semiconductor itself provides a hint as to its characteristics. The prefix semi-is normally applied to a range of levels midway between two limits. The term conductor is applied to any material that will support a generous flow of charge when a voltage source of limited magnitude is applied across its terminals. An insulator is a material that offers a very low level of conductivity under pressure from an applied voltage source. A semiconductor, therefore, is a material that has a conductivity level some-where between the extremes of an insulator and a conductor

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