SEMICONDUCTOR

INTRODUCTION

SOLVED

Q.) Give the classification of materials.

Ans: Basically materials are classified into three types depending
upon the gap between the conduction band and the valance band
called as forbidden energy gap. The three types are mentioned
below:
1. Conductors: The valance band and conduction band almost
overlap hence they posses high conductivity of about 102 to108.
2. Insulators: The band gap is very high i.e.>3ev to15ev.hence
are poor conductors.
3. Semiconductors: These materials lie in between conductors
and insulators with band gap of 1ev hence posses moderate
conductivity.

Q.) Write a note on n-type semiconductor.

Ans: When a small amount of pentavalent impurity
(arsenic,antimony,or phosphorous)is added to semiconductor,it is
called n-type semiconductor.When arsenic is added to silicon,a
large no.of free electrons become available. As arsenic is a
pentavalent impurity its four electrons form covalent bond with
four silicon atom and one electron remains free. Hence in this
way, for each arsenic atom added one free electron is released.
Hence electrons become majority carrier
in n-type of
semiconductor.When thermal energy is applied few electron-hole
pair generates .Holes are the minority carriers. The impurity that
produces n-type semiconductor is known as donor impurity.

SEMICONDUCTOR

INTRODUCTION

SOLVED

Q.) Write about p-type semiconductor.

Ans: When a trivalent impurity (gallium, boron or indium) is added
to semiconductor then it is called as p-type semiconductor. When
boron is trivalent impurity, three electrons form covalent bond with
three silicon atoms and the fourth remain vacant which lead to the
formation of holes. Hence for every boron atom added to silicon
one hole is created per Boron atom. When thermal energy is
applied, electron-holes pairs are formed. Hence in p-type holes
become the majority carrier. The impurity which produce p-type
semiconductor is called as acceptor impurities.

Q.) Give the classification of Semiconductor.

Ans: There are two basic groups or classifications that can be
used to define the different semiconductor types:

Intrinsic material: An intrinsic type of semiconductor material

made to be very pure chemically. As a result it possesses a very
low conductivity level having very few number of charge carriers,
namely holes and electrons, which it possesses in equal
quantities.

Extrinsic material: Extrinsic types of semiconductor are those

where a small amount of impurity has been added to the basic
intrinsic material. This 'doping' uses an element from a different
periodic table group and in this way it will either have more or less
electrons in the valence band than the semiconductor itself. This
creates either an excess or shortage of electrons. In this way two
types of semiconductor are available: Electrons are negatively
charged carriers.

SEMICONDUCTOR

INTRODUCTION

SOLVED

Depending upon the impurity added they are further classified as

1.n-type semiconductor and 2.p-type semiconductor.