semimetallisk

Semimetallisk, in English usually semimetal or semimetallic, refers to materials whose properties lie between metals and nonmetals. In chemistry it is often used for elements known as metalloids—boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, and polonium—exhibiting a mix of metallic and nonmetallic characteristics.

In solid-state physics, a semimetal is a material in which the valence and conduction bands either slightly overlap or have a very small band gap. This yields a low carrier density at room temperature but can produce high carrier mobility, giving unusual electrical behavior that can be tuned by temperature or doping.

Examples of elemental semimetals include the metalloids listed above and, in some classifications, bismuth and graphite, which show low carrier density and atypical transport. More broadly, topological semimetals such as Dirac and Weyl semimetals (for example Cd3As2, Na3Bi, TaAs) are studied for their distinctive band structure and surface states.

Applications span electronics, thermoelectrics, and sensing. Silicon's semimetal-like properties underpin most modern electronics; bismuth-based materials are important in thermoelectric generators; and topological semimetals are explored for potential roles in quantum computing and spintronics.

The label semimetallisk reflects a classification rather than a rigid category, covering elemental metalloids and crystalline phases with small band overlaps. Usage depends on whether the focus is chemistry, solid-state physics, or materials science.