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Dopants are substances added to crystal lattices to alter their conductive properties, commonly used in chip manufacturing. Boron, phosphorus, antimony, and arsenic are common dopants. The doping process can also modify the refractive index of a substance, useful in optics. Dopants can be toxic and cause pollution.
A dopant is a substance that is added to a crystal lattice with the intention of changing its conductive properties. The term is most widely used in the chip manufacturing industry, where dopants are added to silicon and germanium wafers used in the production of computer chips. However, other crystal lattices are also doped, including those used in the manufacture of some optical equipment. Many dopants are extremely toxic, leading to widespread pollution in factories that fail to control their chemicals. Silicon Valley, for example, is heavily contaminated with the remnants of chip manufacturing.
A dopant works by altering the number of free electrons in a crystal lattice, thereby making it more conductive. In the example of silicon, the element typically forms a uniform crystal lattice where each atom bonds with four neighbors. When a dopant with five bonding electrons is introduced, the result is free electrons, creating a negative charge. A dopant with three bonding electrons can be introduced to punch holes in the lattice, creating a positive charge.
Boron, phosphorus, antimony and arsenic are some common examples of dopants. Typically, a silicon wafer is coated in the dopant and then heated to encourage chemical bonding between the dopant and silicon. After the wafer has cooled, the atoms will have rearranged to produce a more electrically conductive wafer that can be broken down for use in transistors and diodes, among other things.
A dopant basically represents an impurity within a crystalline matrix. There are numerous uses for dopants; man-made gems, for example, may include a dopant so they can be identified as lab-grown rather than natural. The doping process can also be used to modify the refractive index of a substance, which is useful in some fields of optics. Solid-state lasers, for example, include a crystal “host” that has been doped.
The term “doping” is also used to refer to a type of lacquer that is applied to fabric-covered aircraft. The drug tightens the skin, providing protection and ensuring that the skin remains stiff throughout the flight. Aviation dope is highly flammable and extremely toxic, which was a major problem during WWII when fabric-covered planes were used in combat. Aircraft dope is usually dyed so that it is easily visible as it is applied, ensuring that it will coat the aircraft evenly.
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