While other metalloids like germanium (Ge) can also be used, silicon is the most common material due to its:

* Abundance: Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust.

* Cost-effectiveness: It's relatively inexpensive to extract and purify.

* Suitable electrical properties: Silicon has a moderate conductivity, making it ideal for controlling the flow of electricity.

* Versatile processing: Silicon can be readily processed into various shapes and forms, allowing for complex semiconductor designs.

Therefore, silicon is the dominant metalloid used in semiconductor manufacturing.