Final answer:
True, the growth and refining of a large single crystal of semiconducting material is a crucial early step in the construction of an integrated circuit. This step ensures the integrated circuits' performance and enables the creation of complex electronic devices.
Step-by-step explanation:
True: An early step in the construction of an integrated circuit is indeed the growth and refining of a large single crystal of semiconducting material. Semiconductors, like silicon, are crucial for the creation of integrated circuits as they have the unique property of being able to conduct electricity under certain conditions. The process of doping introduces impurities into the semiconductor to alter its electrical properties, creating p-type and n-type semiconductors which are fundamental for devices like diodes and transistors within the chip.
The construction of an integrated circuit begins with a pure single crystal substrate, most commonly silicon, as this forms the foundational layer upon which the entire circuit is built. The semiconductor crystal is carefully grown and refined to ensure minimal defects, as the quality of the crystal affects the performance of the final integrated circuit. Impurities are then deliberately added in a controlled manner during the doping process, which creates the semiconductor's electronic properties necessary for functioning circuit elements like transistors and capacitors.
Once the suitable semiconductor crystal is prepared, various fabrication processes, including etching and ion implantation, are used to build the actual circuitry on the microchip. This complex procedure allows the integration of thousands to millions of transistors onto a single chip, revolutionizing electronics and enabling the proliferation of modern computing and communication devices.