Page 45 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

A large number of the new applications come from the fact that some ceramics have gaps inside them that can allow other elements to be added to them. This is called “doping,” and it is the way all transistors and integrated circuits work.
Once the ceramic has been doped, it will conduct electricity and so can be controlled. Doped ceramics are even superconducting, that is, they will conduct electricity with almost no resistance at all when they are cooled to very low temperatures. In fact, it turns out that ceramics can be made into superconductors at temperatures that are less cold than metal superconductors.
Integrated circuits
No computer, modern car, or even washing machine can work without an integrated circuit, often called
a “silicon chip,” or just “chip.” In a chip there are millions of miniaturized electronic components such as transistors. All of them have to be built on ceramic base. They also have to be sealed in so that they are not affected by the environment. Ceramics are used here too.
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