A brittle solid that is also semiconductive could belong to several classes of materials, but one common category is metal oxides. Specific examples include:
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Zinc Oxide (ZnO): A semiconductor with wide applications in electronics and optoelectronics, known for its brittleness.
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Tin Oxide (SnO2): Another semiconductor with good electrical conductivity and is often used in gas sensors and transparent conductive films.
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Cadmium Sulfide (CdS): A semiconductor known for its use in solar cells, which is also brittle.
In addition to metal oxides, some ceramics or compound semiconductors may also fit this description, such as:
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Gallium Nitride (GaN): A semiconductor with beneficial properties for electronic devices, though it is typically more brittle than traditional materials.
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Silicon carbide (SiC): Used in high-temperature applications and semiconductor devices, though it is harder than typical brittle materials.
More broadly, many II-VI materials (such as cadmium telluride, CdTe) and certain nanostructured materials can also be brittle and semiconductive.
If you can determine more specific properties or conduct tests (such as conductivity measurements, X-ray diffraction, or spectroscopic analyses), you might refine the identification further.
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