Can 'ice' be used as a semiconductor material?

bigbat

Can 'ice' be used as a semiconductor material? [Copy link]

 

Today I checked that the conductivity of ultrapure water can reach 0.1uS/CM. Theoretically, the crystal "ice" of ultrapure water should have the characteristics of "semiconductor". If a piece of "alkaline ice" and "acidic ice" are frozen together, a "PN junction" structure should be formed.

Of course, even if it can be made into semiconductors, it is not practical. There are only two polar regions on Earth where it can be used. But if it works, maybe we can use local materials on Mars to build a supercomputer or something!

The above is purely imaginary and is for entertainment only!

maychang

Even if a PN junction can be formed, this PN junction cannot be used at room temperature, let alone at high temperature.

In addition, semiconductor materials are all Group IV elements, such as carbon, silicon, germanium, or compounds of Group III and Group V elements. Ice is not a compound of Group III and Group V elements, so it is questionable whether it can form a PN junction.

PowerAnts

If you know common sense such as gas-liquid-solid phase equilibrium and solid creep, you won't ask this question.

bigbat

There is a compound semiconductor material called " ferrous disulfide" in nature. The semiconductor structure is only related to the crystal structure. So I guess "ice" may be a semiconductor. I just guess whether it can be used and put it aside.

PowerAnts

The physical phase is not eternal. There are still solid-liquid changes in the solid state, but the speed of liquefaction is lower than that of solidification. Therefore, there are sublimation and condensation in the solid state, but the sublimation effect is lower than the condensation effect. Therefore, as long as the temperature does not rise and there is moisture in the external environment, the ice will grow larger and larger. If you make a micro-carving of ice and then seal it up, as long as there are gaps in the tiny places, the local changes in the physical phase will cause local deformation of the ice. Semiconductors are often on the scale of tens of nanometers, and it won't take long for them to open or short-circuit. Not to mention creep, the process is much longer than the above factors.

PowerAnts

I think it's physics in the second year of junior high school.

bigbat

PowerAnts posted on 2019-12-9 12:31 If you understand common sense such as gas-liquid-solid phase equilibrium and solid creep, you will not ask such questions

The gas-liquid-solid phase equilibrium only talks about the possibility of whether the liquid and solid terms can "fuse" with each other, but does not talk about the formation rules of the PN junction. The PN junction is just a theory of the distribution of "electrons" when solid objects form a lattice. So far, humans have not been able to "see the internal structure of the atomic nucleus". Therefore, various lattice systems are also speculations!

PowerAnts

bigbat posted on 2019-12-9 12:44 The gas-liquid-solid phase equilibrium only talks about the possibility of whether the liquid and solid terms can "fuse" with each other, and does not talk about the formation law of the PN junction. The PN junction is just...

If the material is deformed and short-circuited, what is the point of the PN junction still existing? Silicon is a solid with a wide normal temperature range. The smaller the process scale of silicon-based semiconductors, the more serious the electron migration effect. However, it is no problem to work at -100~150 degrees for a long time. Water ice only exists in a narrow temperature range and is very sensitive to temperature rise. I remember that in a middle school experiment, there was an experiment where a nail entered an ice cube under pressure. If the ice cube is replaced with silicon material, it can still be pressed in even after 100,000 years. For applications, the stability of the material is very important.

PowerAnts

In addition, when semiconductor chips are packaged, the PAD needs to withstand the bonding temperature that can melt the metal wire, and the entire CHIP needs to withstand the curing temperature of thermosetting plastic and even the softening temperature of glass. What process does Water Ice use to achieve sub-zero packaging?

bigbat

PowerAnts published on 2019-12-9 12:50 If the materials are deformed and short-circuited, but the PN junction still exists, what is the point? Silicon is a solid with a wide range of room temperature. The smaller the process scale of silicon-based semiconductors, the faster the electron migration...

I didn't say that the "semiconductor" of water ice can be used, I'm just curious whether it can be formed in theory. If it can really be used, it must be minus 60 or 70 degrees Celsius! What "sublimation" you mentioned, silicon also has it at room temperature, but it's extremely slow!

PowerAnts

bigbat posted on 2019-12-9 12:58 I didn't say that the "semiconductor" of water ice can be used, I'm just curious whether it can be formed in theory. If it can really be used, it must be minus 60 to 70 degrees Celsius! You...

Oh, okay, you take your time to study it.

Phase changes occur in any material at any temperature. The example above shows that a nail can quickly enter ice under pressure, while silicon may take 100,000 years. This shows that the phase of water ice is extremely unstable, while silicon is "relatively" stable.

bigbat

This post is just for fun, everyone is welcome to participate! Keeping calm is the key.

PowerAnts

bigbat posted on 2019-12-9 13:15 This post is just for "entertainment", everyone is welcome to actively participate! Keeping calm is the key.

Your possibility is far less than studying the edibility of "feces", as long as you can get rid of the psychological barriers. It's nothing, for money, a star on a certain show was forced to drink his own urine and he could drink it. Haha, no more nonsense, I'm going to work soon

maychang

Back to reality.

In electronic technology, quartz crystal is a commonly used component, mainly used to generate oscillation signals with stable frequency. Its principle is to use the piezoelectric effect and inverse piezoelectric effect of quartz crystal.

Sucrose crystals also have piezoelectric effect and reverse piezoelectric effect. Their piezoelectric effect is stronger than that of quartz crystals, and their price is much cheaper than that of quartz crystals. The granulated sugar we often eat is sucrose crystals. Why are sucrose crystals not used as piezoelectric elements in electronic technology?

maychang

Sucrose crystals should not be used as electronic components because sucrose has very low strength and is easily affected by moisture. It has a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and its Young's modulus varies greatly with temperature (which will cause the frequency of a sucrose crystal oscillator to vary greatly with temperature). It will melt at slightly higher temperatures... Therefore, no matter how cheap sucrose is, sucrose crystals should not be used as electronic components.

bigbat

There is no need to study the question of whether feces can be used, as there are traditional Chinese medicines made from animal feces.

Night-shining sand is the excrement of bats;
Moon-watching sand is the excrement of wild rabbits;
Wulingzhi is the excrement of flying squirrels;
Ambergris is the excrement of whales;
White lilac is the excrement of sparrows

It’s just up to you whether you want to use it as a staple food!

maychang

bigbat posted on 2019-12-9 16:00 There is no need to study whether feces can be used. There are animal feces in traditional Chinese medicine. Yemingsha is bat feces, Wangyuesha is wild rabbit feces...

From semiconductors to traditional Chinese medicine and feces.

Then let’s retreat and stop talking nonsense.

bigbat

maychang posted on 2019-12-9 17:44 From semiconductors to traditional Chinese medicine and feces. Then retreat and stop talking.

It cannot be said that ice is meaningless as a semiconductor. If ice can be made into a semiconductor, at least it is more environmentally friendly. It can also be used to make solar cells like silicon. Ice has a relatively low melting point and can be made on a relatively complex surface. In one winter, it can generate a lot of electricity and can electrolyze a lot of hydrogen. Isn't that a good source of energy?

bigbat

However, ice may also become a semiconductor under some extreme conditions, such as extremely low temperature and high pressure. In that case, it may not have much practical value. The ice lattice is unstable, and the PN barrier formed is weak, which cannot carry large current.

高级灰0090

Thanks to the author for sharing selflessly. Very exciting content, I learned a lot and benefited a lot. Thank you very much.