What is a silicon wafer?

Silicon wafers are a key component of integrated circuits such as those used to power computers, cellphones, and a wide variety of other devices. A silicon wafer consists of a thin slice of silicon which can be treated in various ways, depending on the type of electronics it is being used in. Silicon is a very high quality semiconductor, making it ideal for the production of such circuits, although other materials have been explored historically. Much of the world's production of silicon wafers was historically centered in the aptly-named Silicon Valley in California.

If the development of the integrated circuit revolutionized human society, the silicon wafer deserves a big part of the credit. While other semiconductors were tested and tried, siliconproved to be the most stable and useful. Fortunately, the raw materials for silicon wafers are quite accessible, even if some work is required to produce wafer-grade silicon.

Making silicon wafers is a lengthy process. A lab must grow a silicon crystal in highly controlled conditions to maintain purity, although the lab may selectively dope the crystal with certain ingredients during the growth process. Once the crystal is grown, it is cut into thin slices which must then be polished before they can used to make integrated circuits.