What is a compound semiconductor?
A1 Semiconductors can consist of a single element (for example, silicon (Si)), or of a crystal formed artificially from two or more elements (for example gallium (Ga) and arsenic (As), which have a long track record of being used for semiconductor products). The latter is generally called as compound semiconductor. The above-mentioned gallium and arsenic compound (III-V Family) is characterized by an electron mobility rate that is approximately six times greater than that of silicon, it is used as the substrate material for high-frequency/high-speed semiconductor devices. Other compound-use elements (Al: Aluminum, In: Indium, N: Nitrogen, P: Phosphorus, etc.) are used as substrate materials for light-emitting diodes (LDE) (Note). Zinc (Zn) and Tellurium (Te) are commonly used as a p-type impurity and n-type impurity, respectively, for III-V Family compounds. Note: When a forward current flows through a light-emitting diode, the energy from the recombination of those positive holes and
