If any of you don't know about resistivity, I'm currently doing it for an A-level.
Resistivity is the amount of resistance per metre of a wire, obviously, the lower the reading, the lower the resistance for any given length...
So, I'm looking through a few reference tables in my Physics notes and I come across this...
Resisitivity (Ohm metres) of semiconductors:
Silicon - 2300
Germanium - 0.6 !!!!!
Okay, so if this is the case, and I'm reading the stuff properly, and I'm not drugged or anything... Germanium has a far far lower resitivity than silicon, and hence a lower resistance...
So why don't we use it? I'm thinking that because the resistance is lower, chips can be run at higher speeds etc. with lower temps and less cooling...
Two ideas come to mind on this one:
Cost - I don't know the cost of germanium but it might well be more expensive than silicon...
Future idea: This could be something that will be used when the limits of silicon start to be approached.
Ideas people?,
IntelMole
Edit: Spelling mistake of Ohm meters
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: IntelMole on 2002-02-06 18:26 ]</font>