What material are Integrated Circuits primarily made from now?

Integrated circuits (ICs), which are the building blocks of modern electronics, are primarily made from silicon. Silicon is a semiconductor material that has superior electrical properties, making it ideal for controlling the flow of electricity in devices. It allows for the fabrication of transistors, diodes, and other components in a compact and efficient manner.

The choice of silicon stems from its ability to form a stable oxide layer (silicon dioxide) that can be used as an insulator and can also be easily integrated into various semiconductor device architectures. Furthermore, silicon has a well-established fabrication infrastructure, making it cost-effective and readily available for mass production.

In contrast, while carbon is a fundamental element and has potential applications in electronics (like graphene), it is not the primary material for integrated circuits. Gold, though it has excellent conductive properties, is primarily used for interconnections rather than as a substrate for ICs. Copper is often used for wiring within integrated circuits due to its superior conductivity, but it does not serve as the primary material from which the circuits themselves are constructed.