Scribd
Upload
208 views2 pages

Extrinsic Semiconductor: An Extrinsic Semiconductor Can Be Further Classified Into

Extrinsic semiconductors have their conductivity improved by doping with impurities. Doping is the process of adding impurity atoms to a pure semiconductor, replacing about 1 in 107 atoms. There are two types of extrinsic semiconductors: P-type and N-type. P-type uses acceptor impurities which create holes that are the majority carriers. N-type uses donor impurities which donate free electrons that are the majority carriers, leaving the semiconductor with an excess of electrons. The doping process results in a neutral crystal but with either positive ionized donor atoms or negative ionized acceptor atoms.

Uploaded by

Ritvik Chaturvedi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
208 views2 pages

Extrinsic Semiconductor: An Extrinsic Semiconductor Can Be Further Classified Into

Extrinsic semiconductors have their conductivity improved by doping with impurities. Doping is the process of adding impurity atoms to a pure semiconductor, replacing about 1 in 107 atoms. There are two types of extrinsic semiconductors: P-type and N-type. P-type uses acceptor impurities which create holes that are the majority carriers. N-type uses donor impurities which donate free electrons that are the majority carriers, leaving the semiconductor with an excess of electrons. The doping process results in a neutral crystal but with either positive ionized donor atoms or negative ionized acceptor atoms.

Uploaded by

Ritvik Chaturvedi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

📂

Extrinsic Semiconductor
The conductivity of semiconductors can be greatly improved by
introducing a small number of suitable replacement atoms called
IMPURITIES

The process of adding impurity atoms to the pure semiconductor is called


DOPING. Usually, only 1 atom in 107 is replaced by a dopant atom in the
doped semiconductor

An extrinsic semiconductor can be further classified


into:
 P type Semiconductor

Mainly due to holes

Entirely neutral

I = I(holes) and n(holes) >> n(electrons)

Extrinsic Semiconductor 1
Majority – Electrons and Minority – Holes

When a pure semiconductor is doped with a trivalent impurity B, Al, In, Ga
) then, the three valence electrons of the impurity bonds with three of the
four valence electrons of the semiconductor.

This leaves an absence of electron (hole) in the impurity. These impurity


atoms which are ready to accept bonded electrons are called “Acceptors“.

With the increase in the number of impurities, holes (the positive charge
carriers) are increased. Hence, it is called p-type semiconductor.

Crystal as a whole is neutral, but the acceptors become an immobile


negative ion. As conduction is due to a large number of holes, the holes in
the p-type semiconductor are MAJORITY CARRIERS and electrons are
MINORITY CARRIERS

 N type Semiconductor

Mainly due to electrons

Entirely neutral

I = I(electrons) and n(electrons) >> n(holes)

Majority – Electrons and Minority – Holes

When a pure semiconductor Silicon or Germanium) is doped by


pentavalent impurity P, As, Sb, Bi) then, four electrons out of five valence
electrons bonds with the four electrons of Ge or Si.

The fifth electron of the dopant is set free. Thus the impurity atom donates
a free electron for conduction in the lattice and is called “Donar“.

Since the number of free electron increases by the addition of an impurity,


the negative charge carriers increase. Hence it is called n-type
semiconductor.

Crystal as a whole is neutral, but the donor atom becomes an immobile


positive ion. As conduction is due to a large number of free electrons, the
electrons in the n-type semiconductor are the MAJORITY CARRIERS and
holes are the MINORITY CARRIERS

Extrinsic Semiconductor 2

You might also like