While silicon is the most famous and popular of all the semiconductors, there are other materials out there that can be used. One of those is gallium arsenide. Gallium arsenide has certain technical advantages over silicon. Let’s take a look at the difference between a GaAs wafer and a silicon one.
While currently, silicon is the cheaper option for a semiconductor, that might not remain the case for long. Researchers have begun developing a manufacturing process that could then dramatically reduce the cost of making gallium arsenide electronic devices.This could be particularly useful in the making of solar panels where currently silicon is the preferred option because it costs less. How much less do you ask? Well, currently a GaAs wafer that is 8 inches in diameter can run $5,000. In contrast, that same wafer, made out of silicon, can be as cheap as $5.
While currently, GaAs wafers might cost significantly more than a silicon one, there are still several distinct advantages of using gallium arsenide over silicon. Those include:
No matter if it’s a wafer made out of Gallium Arsenide or Silicon, at Wafer World we have the wafers for you. Wafer World Inc. has since been satisfying customers across six continents in over 45 countries for over 20 years and we want to serve you as well. Contact us today to learn more or to place an order.
