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Semiconductor Fundamental

the review of Semiconductors. all the basics of semiconductor that needs to review all concepts of Bsc and Msc physics unit cells crystal defects

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77 views5 pages

Semiconductor Fundamental

the review of Semiconductors. all the basics of semiconductor that needs to review all concepts of Bsc and Msc physics unit cells crystal defects

Uploaded by

luqman
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Semiconductor Fundamentals : The materials whose electrical properties lie between

those of conductors and Insulators are known as semiconductors.


The exampels ofsuch materials are germanium (Ge),
Silicon (Si), gallium arsenide (Ga As), Cadium Sulfide (Cds), lead
telluride etc,.
At absolute zero temperature (ie at 0K) there are no
elctrons in the conduction band of semiconductors and the valence
band is completely filled. Thus the semiconductor behave like an
insulator at 0K.
If the temperature is increased the width of the energy gap
reduces, consequently, some of the electrons jump into condition
band and semiconductors show some conductivity.
It is thus obvious, that the conductivity of semiconductors
increases with the increases in temperture.
Co-Valent bonds : The atoms of every element are held together by the
bonding action of valence electrons.
In semiconductors bonds are formed by sharing of
valence electrons such bonds are called co-valent bonds.
In the formation of co-valent bond, each atom continue
equal number of valence electrons and the contributed electrons
are shared by the atoms engaged in the formation of the bond.
Commonly used semiconductors : The most frequency used materials are germanium (Ge),
and Silicon (Si).
It is because then energy required to break their co-valent
bonds is every small;being 0.7 eV for Ge and 1.1 eV for Silicon.
Germanium is an each element. It is recovered from the
ash pd certain coals or from the flue dust of Zinc smelters.

The atomic numbers of germanium is 32. It has four


valence electrons (ie) it is tetravalent element.
Figure 2 shows how the various germanium atoms are
held through co-valent bonds.
As the atoms are arranged in an orderly pattern, therfore
germanium has crystalline structure.
Note :A sunstance in which the atoms or molecules are arrenged in
an orderly pattern is known as crystal. All semiconductors have
crystalline structure.
Silicon : Silicon is an element in most of the common rocks.
Actually, sand is silicon dioxide. The silicon compounds are
chemically reduced to silicon which is 100% pure for use as a
semiconductors.
The atomic number of silicon is 14. Silicon atom has four
valence elements (ie) it is a tetravalent element.
Like germanium, Silicon atoms are also arranged in an
orderly manner. Therfore , silicon has crystalline structure.

Silicon atom

Consider a pure germanium crystal. Germanium atom has


four valency electron. When a small amount of pentavalent
impurity is added germanium crystal, the four valence
electrons wil form co-valent bonds four valence electrons of
germanium atom. The fifth electron of pentavalent impurity
finds no place for co-valent bond and is thus free electron.
Thus each arsenic atom introduced on free electron. Thus
a samll amount of arsenic provides enough atoms to suply
millions of free electrons.
Thus many new free electrons are produced by the
addition of pentavalent impurity.
Because of thermal energy a few hole-electron pairs are
created. But the number of free electrons exceeds the number
of holes.
n type conductivity :-

The current conduction in an n type semiconductor


material is by free electrons (ie) negative changes and is
called n type or electron type conductivity.
When p.d is applied across the n type semiconductor, the
free electrons are directed towards the positive terminal,
conssitutes electric current. As the current flow through the
crystal is by free electrons which are carriers of negative
charge, therfore this type of conductivity is called negative
(or) n type conductivity.
p type Semiconductor :-

When a small amount of trivalent impurity is added to a


pure semiconductor, it is called p type semiconductor.
The addition of trivalent impurity provides a large number
of hloes in the semiconductor material.
Typical examples of trivalent impurities are gallium and
indium.

The impurities which produce p type semiconductor are


known as acceptor impurities. Because the holes created can
accept the electrons.
To explain the formation of p type semiconductor,
consider a pure germanium crystal, when a small amount of
trivalent impurity is added, it forms only there co-valent
bonds with germanium atom.
But the fouth co-valent bond is incompelete, for this bond
germanium atom only provides one valence electron.
Hence the missing electron is treated as a hole. Thus each
gallium atom introduced will give one hole. Thus a small
amount of gallium provides millions of holes ;
p type Conductivity : The current conduction in a p type semiconductor
material is mainly because of holes (ie) posotive changes and
is called p type (or) hole type conductivity.

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