This document discusses semiconductors and their properties. It explains that semiconductors have electrical conductivity between conductors and insulators. There are two types of semiconductors - intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic semiconductors like silicon are very pure, while extrinsic semiconductors have impurities added to increase conductivity, making them either n-type or p-type semiconductors. Semiconductors are necessary for modern electronics as the basic components of transistors and diodes used in devices like computers.
2. SEMICONDUCTORS
The materials whose electrical conductivity lies between those of
conductors and insulators, are known as semiconductors.
Semiconductors are crystalline or amorphous solids with distinct
electrical characteristics.
Their resistance decreases as their temperature increases, which is
behavior opposite to that of a metal.
Some common semiconductors :
Si - Silicon (most common) Ge - Germanium GaAs
3. ENERGY BAND DIAGRAM
Forbidden energy band is
small for semiconductors.
Less energy is required for
electron to move from
valence to conduction band.
A vacancy (hole) remains
when an electron leaves the
valence band.
Hole acts as a positive
charge carrier.
4. There are two types of Semiconductors
1)Intrinsic Semiconductors
2)Extrinsic Semiconductors
Intrinsic Semiconductors:Tetravalent
Ex:Si,Ge etc
Extrinsic Semiconductors:
Ex:p-type and n-type
TYPES O F
SEMICONDUCTORS
5. A semiconductor, which is in its extremely pure form, is known as
an intrinsic semiconductor. Silicon and germanium are the most
widely used intrinsic semiconductors.
Both silicon and germanium are tetravalent, i.e. each has four
electrons (valence electrons) in their outermost shell.
Each atom shares its four valence electrons with its four
immediate neighbors, so that each atom is involved in four
covalent bonds.
When the temperature of an intrinsic semiconductor is increased,
beyond room temperature a large number of electron-hole pairs
are generated.
INTRINSIC SEMICONDUCTOR
6. Pure semiconductors have negligible conductivity at room temperature. To increase
the conductivity of intrinsic semiconductor, some impurity is added. The resulting
semiconductor is called impure or extrinsic semiconductor.
EXTRINSIC SEMICONDUCTOR
Two types of impurity atoms are added to the
semiconductor
Atoms containing 5
valance electrons
(Pentavalent impurity atoms)
e.g. P, As, Sb, Bi
Atoms containing 3
valance electrons
(Trivalent impurity atoms)
e.g. Al, Ga, B, In
N-type semiconductor P-type semiconductor
7. N-TYPE SEMICONDUCTOR
The semiconductors which are obtained by introducing pentavalent impurity atoms are known as N-type
semiconductors.
Examples are P, Sb, As and Bi. These elements have 5 electrons in their valance shell. Out of which 4 electrons
will form covalent bonds with the neighbouring atoms and the 5th electron will be available as a current carrier.
The impurity atom is thus known as donor atom.
P-TYPE SEMICONDUCTOR
The semiconductors which are obtained by introducing trivalent impurity atoms are known as P-type
semiconductors.
Examples are Ga, In, Al and B. These elements have 3 electrons in their valance shell which will form
covalent bonds with the neighbouring atoms.
The fourth covalent bond will remain incomplete. A vacancy, which exists in the incomplete covalent bond
constitute a hole. The impurity atom is thus known as acceptor atom.
8. .
Fermi Level
The Fermi level (EF) is the maximumenergy, which can be
occupied by an electron at absolute zero (0 K).
9. INTRINSIC SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY
BAND DIAGRAM
Fermi
Level (EF)
Forbidden
Energy
Gap
The Fermi level (EF) lies at the middle of the forbidden energy gap.
10. FERMI ENERGY DIAGRAM FOR N-
TYPE SEMICONDUCTORS
Donor
Level
Energy (eV)
The Fermi level (EF) shifts upwards towards the bottom of the
conduction band.
Fermi
Level (EF)
11. FERMI ENERGY DIAGRAM FOR P-TYPE
SEMICONDUCTORS
Energy (eV)
The Fermi level (EF) shifts downwards towards the top of the
valance band.
Acceptor
Level
Fermi
Level (EF)
13. NECESSITY OF SEMICONDUCTORS
Semiconductors are used in the production of transistors and
diodes, as the basic components of modern electronic devices. This
technology has completely changed the world we live in because it
can produce better, faster, cheaper electronic devices.
Not all semiconductors are suitable for computers. Computer
semiconductors must be made in a particular way. In 2011,
semiconductors were used in 2/3 of the electronic devices, such as
personal computers, notebooks made of integrated circuits, tablet
computers, calculators and other devices. The continuous
improvement of semiconductor manufacturing process is the main
reason for the decline in the prices of computers and other similar
electronic products.