At ordinary temperature the electrical conductivity of semiconductors in mho/meter is in the range:

CONCEPT:

• The material which is not a good conductor or a good insulator is called a semiconductor.
• For example Silicon
• The charge carrier in the semiconductor is electron and holes.

Electrical conductivity

• Electrical conductivity is defined as a material's ability to conduct electricity.

​EXPLANATION:

on the basis of conductivity

On the basis of the relative values of electrical conductivity (σ) or resistivity (ρ = 1 / σ). The solids are broadly classified as:

(i) Metals: They possess very low resistivity (or high conductivity).

ρ ∼ 10^-2 - 10^-8 Ωm

σ ∼ 10² - 10⁸ S m^-1

(ii) Semiconductors: They have resistivity or conductivity intermediate to metals and insulators.

ρ ∼ 10^-5 - 10⁶ Ωm

σ ∼ 10⁵ - 10^-6 S m-1

(iii) Insulators: They have high resistivity (or low conductivity).

ρ ∼ 10¹¹ - 106 Ωm

σ ∼ 10^-11 - 10-19 S m-1