solid-state component

electronics

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July 14, 2026

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A solid-state device is an electronic component that uses solid semiconductor crystals, such as silicon, to conduct electricity, unlike vacuum tubes. These semiconductors have unique electronic properties due to their atomic structure and energy bands.12

The first solid-state device was the "cat's whisker" in 1906. Today, transistors are central to solid-state devices, with millions integrated into circuits. Semiconductor devices are compact, reliable, and cost-effective, finding use in everything from power devices to light emitters and complex microelectronic circuits. They are essential for most electronic systems, including communications and data processing.13

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semiconductor device
Semiconductor materials
Solid-state materials are commonly grouped into three classes: insulators, semiconductors, and conductors. (At low temperatures some conductors, semiconductors, and insulators may become superconductors.) Figure 1 shows the conductivities σ (and the corresponding resistivities ρ = 1/σ) that are associated with some important materials in each…
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Solid-state materials are commonly grouped into three classes: insulators, semiconductors, and conductors. (At low temperatures some conductors, semiconductors, and insulators may become superconductors.) Figure 1 shows the conductivities σ (and the corresponding resistivities ρ = 1/σ) that are associated with some important materials in each…
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amplifier
Solid-state microcircuits have generally proved more advantageous than vacuum-tube circuits for the direct coupling of successive amplifier stages. Transformers can be used for coupling, but they are bulky and expensive.
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Solid-state microcircuits have generally proved more advantageous than vacuum-tube circuits for the direct coupling of successive amplifier stages. Transformers can be used for coupling, but they are bulky and expensive.
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physics
Condensed-matter physics
Among solid materials, the greatest theoretical advances have been in the study of crystalline materials whose simple repetitive geometric arrays of atoms are multiple-particle systems that allow treatment by quantum mechanics. Because the atoms in a solid are coordinated with each other over large distances, the…
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Among solid materials, the greatest theoretical advances have been in the study of crystalline materials whose simple repetitive geometric arrays of atoms are multiple-particle systems that allow treatment by quantum mechanics. Because the atoms in a solid are coordinated with each other over large distances, the…
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radar
Transmitters
Solid-state transmitters, such as the transistor, are attractive because of their potential for long life, ease of maintenance, and relatively wide bandwidth. An individual solid-state device generates relatively low power and can be used only when the radar application can be accomplished with low power…
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Solid-state transmitters, such as the transistor, are attractive because of their potential for long life, ease of maintenance, and relatively wide bandwidth. An individual solid-state device generates relatively low power and can be used only when the radar application can be accomplished with low power…
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