What's New :
Mains PYQ Practice Programme. Visit Here

Semiconductor Chip

Published: 11th Apr, 2024

Context

Semiconductor chip manufacturing capabilities are currently limited to very few regions in the world. Due to limited manufacturing and threat of supply chain disruptions, India has realised the importance of investing in chip manufacturing infrastructure.

What is a semiconductor?

  • Semiconductors are materials that possess properties between those of conductors (such as metals) and insulators (such as glass or plastic).
    • The most commonly used semiconductor material is silicon (Si).
  • The conductivity component of semiconductors can be altered by introducing impurities through a process called "doping." By adding specific impurities, the semiconductor's electrical properties can be controlled.
  • Application: Microprocessors, memory chips, commodity integrated circuits, microcontrollers, transistors and others.

How is semiconductor chip manufactured?

  • A semiconductor chip is manufactured much like a postage stamp.
  • A sheet of stamps is printed on a piece of paper and then each individual stamp is cut out.
  • Similarly, an array (typically 300-400) of chips are printed on a circular piece of semiconductor (called a wafer in industry parlance).
  • This is then diced to create individual chips.

Fact Box: Recent Government Initiatives

  • Semicon India Programme was approved in 2021 for the development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystems over the next six years.
  • India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was set up within Digital India Corporation to drive India’s strategies for developing semiconductors and display ecosystem.
  • Plant: The TATA group has partnered with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) to set-up a 300mm wafer fabrication plant in Gujarat
    • Two assembly and test plants in Gujarat and Assam have also been recently approved by the Government of India.

Verifying, please be patient.

Enquire Now