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Chapter 18: Electrical Properties II: Intrinsic & Extrinsic Semiconductors

This document summarizes key concepts from Chapter 18 on electrical properties of intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors. It discusses how conductivity is characterized in conductors, semiconductors, and insulators based on their electronic structures. Impurities can affect conductivity in metals and semiconductors differently. In semiconductors, impurities known as doping can create an excess of electrons or holes, making the material an n-type or p-type extrinsic semiconductor. The conductivity of intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors increases with temperature but for different reasons. P-N junctions formed from doped semiconductors can be used to make devices such as rectifiers and avalanche diodes.

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Manish Kumar
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122 views20 pages

Chapter 18: Electrical Properties II: Intrinsic & Extrinsic Semiconductors

This document summarizes key concepts from Chapter 18 on electrical properties of intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors. It discusses how conductivity is characterized in conductors, semiconductors, and insulators based on their electronic structures. Impurities can affect conductivity in metals and semiconductors differently. In semiconductors, impurities known as doping can create an excess of electrons or holes, making the material an n-type or p-type extrinsic semiconductor. The conductivity of intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors increases with temperature but for different reasons. P-N junctions formed from doped semiconductors can be used to make devices such as rectifiers and avalanche diodes.

Uploaded by

Manish Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 18: Electrical Properties II:

Intrinsic & Extrinsic Semiconductors


ISSUES TO ADDRESS...
How are electrical conductivity and resistivity characterized?
What electronic structure distinguishes
conductors, semiconductors, and insulators?
How is conductivity in metals affected by
impurities, temperature, and deformation?
How is conductivity in semiconductors affected
by impurities (doping) and temperature?

Class 21 Chapter 18: Conductivity II Intrinsic & Extrinsic Semic - Topic #7.2

Chapter 18 - 1

Intrinsic Elemental vs. Compound Semiconductors


Elemental Semiconductors

Chapter 18 -

Conductivity in Semiconductors

Chapter 18 -

Conduction in Terms of Electron & Hole Migration


Concept of electrons and holes:
valence
electron

electron
hole
pair creation

Si atom

+ -

no applied
electric field

electron
hole
pair migration

applied
electric field

Electrical Conductivity given by:

applied
electric field

# holes/m 3

n e e p e h
# electrons/m3

Adapted from Fig. 18.11,


Callister 7e.

hole mobility

electron mobility
Chapter 18 -

Intrinsic Semiconductor Conductivity Increases with T

Chapter 18 -

Intrinsic Semiconductors: Conductivity vs T


and Also Plotted as ln Conductivity vs. 1/T
Data for Pure Silicon:
-- increases with T
-- opposite to metals

Data for Pure Silicon:


-- ln decreases vs. 1/T

ni e e h
E gap / kT

ni e
material
Si
Ge
GaP
CdS

band gap (eV)


1.11
0.67
2.25
2.40

Selected values from Table 18.3,


Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

Chapter 18 - 6

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Conduction


Intrinsic:
-- case for pure Si
-- # electrons = # holes (n = p)

Extrinsic:
-- electrical behavior is determined by presence of impurities
that introduce excess electrons or holes
-- n p

n-type Extrinsic: (n >> p)

p-type Extrinsic: (p >> n)

Phosphorus atom
4+ 4+ 4+ 4+

n e e

4+ 5+ 4+ 4+
4+ 4+ 4+ 4+

Adapted from Figs. 18.12(a)


& 18.14(a), Callister &
Rethwisch 8e.

no applied
electric field

Boron atom
hole
conduction
electron

4+ 4+ 4+ 4+

valence
electron

4+ 4+ 4+ 4+

Si atom

4+ 3+ 4+ 4+

no applied
electric field

p e h

Chapter 18 - 7

What Elements Make Si an n-type Extrinsic Semiconductor?

Donor energy level

Majority carriers are electrons


Minority carriers are electron holes
Chapter 18 -

How Does T Affect an n-type Semiconductor?


e

Chapter 18 -

What Elements Make Si a p-type Extrinsic Semiconductor?

Majority carriers are electron holes


Minority carriers are electrons
Chapter 18 -

Activity - How Does T Affect a p-type Semiconductor?

Chapter 18 -

Activity Electrical Property Concept Questions


1.

What will increase the conductivity of polycrystalline silicon?


1.
decreasing temperature
2.
increasing the grain size
3.
decreasing the grain size

2.

Will adding 1% As to silicon increase or decrease its conductivity?


1.
Increase because the As will contribute electrons
2.
Decrease because As scatters electrons
3.
Increase because arsenic is a better conductor than silicon
4.
Decrease because arsenic is a worse conductor than silicon
5.
Decrease because As takes more thermal energy for the electrons to move

3.

Electrical conductivity will decrease when :


1.
a metal has impurities added
2.
a semiconductor has impurities added
3.
a metal has its temperature increased
4.
a semiconductor has its temperature increased
5.
a metal is annealed

4.

The addition of boron (III) to silicon (IV):


1.
provides donors
2.
gives electron hole minority carriers
3.
makes it n-type
4.
makes it p-type
5.
reduces the energy gap

Chapter 18 -

Summary of Band Gaps in Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Semic.

Chapter 18 -

Extrinsic Semiconductors: Conductivity vs. Temperature


Data for Doped Silicon:
-- increases doping
-- reason: imperfection sites

-- extrinsic doping level:


1021/m3 of a n-type donor
impurity (such as P).
-- for T < 100 K: "freeze-out,
thermal energy insufficient to
excite electrons.
-- for 150 K < T < 450 K: "extrinsic"
-- for T >> 450 K: "intrinsic"

extrinsic

intrinsic

3
freeze-out

extrinsic conduction...

concentration (1021/m3)

Comparison: intrinsic vs

undoped

Conduction electron

lower the activation energy to


produce mobile electrons.

doped

0
0

200

400

600

T (K)

Adapted from Fig. 18.17, Callister & Rethwisch


8e. (Fig. 18.17 from S.M. Sze, Semiconductor
Devices, Physics, and Technology, Bell
Telephone Laboratories, Inc., 1985.)

Chapter 18 - 14

Building Block for Devices: p-n Rectifying Junction


Allows flow of electrons in one direction only (e.g., useful
to convert alternating current to direct current).

Processing: diffuse P into one side of a B-doped crystal.

+ p-type
+ +
+ +

-- No applied potential:
no net current flow.
-- Forward bias: carriers
flow through p-type and
n-type regions; holes and
electrons recombine at
p-n junction; current flows.
-- Reverse bias: carriers
flow away from p-n junction;
junction region depleted of
carriers; little current flow.

n-type

Adapted from
Fig. 18.21
Callister &
Rethwisch
8e.

p-type

+ - n-type
+
++- - + -

+ p-type
+ +
+ +

n-type

Chapter 18 - 15

p - n Rectifying Junction: AC to DC Conversion

Silicon controlled rectifier

Fig. 18.22, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

Fig. 18.23, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

Chapter 18 - 16

p - n Rectifying Junction: Avalanche Diode

Fig. 18.22, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

Chapter 18 - 17

Summary
For intrinsic semiconductors, conductivity is increased by
-- increasing temperature
For extrinsic semiconductors conductivity is increased by
-- doping by adding B (III) to Si (IV) (p-type)
-- doping by adding P to Si (n-type)]
p n junctions can be used to make devices such as
-- rectifiers to convert AC to DC current
-- avalanche diodes for surge protectors

Chapter 18 - 18

HW# 21 Electrical Properties II: Intrinsic & Extrinsic Semiconductors

5. Explain how the avalanche diode in the surge protector plug-in outlet strip will
protect your computer from damage by the voltage surge.

Chapter 18 -

Points of Reflection on Todays Class


Letter + 4 digit number ______________

Class Topic: _______________________Date: ________________


Please briefly describe your insights on the following points from todays class.

Point of Interest:

Describe what you found most interesting in todays class.

How Interesting? (circle)

Muddiest Point:

Very Much

Describe what was confusing or needed more detail.

How Muddy? (circle)

Learning Point:

Little Bit

Little Bit

Very Much

Describe what you learned about how you learn?

Chapter 18 - 20

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