Examples of semiconductors include which materials?

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Semiconductors are materials whose electrical conductivity sits between that of a conductor and an insulator and can be precisely controlled, often through doping and temperature changes. Silicon and germanium are classic examples because their electronic structure allows impurity atoms to tune conductivity, enabling devices like diodes and transistors. Selenium also shows semiconductor behavior and is used in certain electronic and photo-related applications. The other materials don’t fit this category: metals such as iron, copper, and aluminum conduct electricity very well and aren’t used in their pure form as semiconductors; noble gases like helium, neon, and argon are gases (often insulating) at room temperature; and plastics, glass, and wood are insulators and do not inherently possess the controllable semiconducting properties needed for electronic devices.