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Class 1

The document provides an overview of several topics in semiconductor theory and devices: 1) It discusses band theory of solids, intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, and doping. 2) It examines PN junctions including metal-semiconductor junctions and how forward and reverse biasing works. 3) It briefly introduces several semiconductor devices like solar cells, photodetectors, and LEDs.

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Eduard
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36 views

Class 1

The document provides an overview of several topics in semiconductor theory and devices: 1) It discusses band theory of solids, intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, and doping. 2) It examines PN junctions including metal-semiconductor junctions and how forward and reverse biasing works. 3) It briefly introduces several semiconductor devices like solar cells, photodetectors, and LEDs.

Uploaded by

Eduard
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Course overview

• Band Theory of Solids


• Semiconductor Theory
Intrinsic semiconductors
Extrinsic semiconductors
Degenerate semiconductors
Compensation doping
• Junctions
Metal-Metal
Metal-Semiconductor
Semiconductor-Semiconductor (P-N junction, Zener, and tunnel)
• Semiconductor Devices
Solar cell
Photodetector
Light emitting diode
Electrical Resistivity
and Conductivity of
Selected Materials
at 293 K
Band Theory of Solids
• When more atoms are added (as in a real solid), there is
a further splitting of energy levels. With a large number
of atoms, the levels are split into nearly continuous
energy bands, with each band consisting of a number of
closely spaced energy levels.

6 atoms
BAND STRUCTURE
Sodium 3s1 only one occupied so
half full. Empty 3p overlaps with
half filled 3s. Easy for valence
electrons to jump to higher unfilled
states by the presence of a small
E field.

Above filled states (blue) there are many empty states into
which electrons can be excited by even a small electric
field. Sodium is a conductor.
Valence band: Band occupied by the outermost electrons
Conduction: Lowest band with unoccupied states

Conductor: Valence band partially filled (half full) Cu.


or Conduction band overlaps the valence band
Resistivity vs. Temperature

Figure 11.1: (a) Resistivity versus temperature for a typical conductor. Notice the linear rise in
resistivity with increasing temperature at all but very low temperatures. (b) Resistivity versus
temperature for a typical conductor at very low temperatures. Notice that the curve flattens and
approaches a nonzero resistance as T → 0. (c) Resistivity versus temperature for a typical
semiconductor. The resistivity increases dramatically as T → 0.
Holes and Intrinsic Semiconductors

• When electrons move into the conduction band, they leave behind vacancies in the valence band. These
vacancies are called holes. Because holes represent the absence of negative charges, it is useful to think
of them as positive charges.

• Whereas the electrons move in a direction opposite to the applied electric field, the holes move in the
direction of the electric field.

• A semiconductor in which there is a balance between the number of electrons in the conduction band
and the number of holes in the valence band is called an intrinsic semiconductor.

Examples of intrinsic semiconductors include pure carbon and germanium.


Fig. 12-22, p.429
Brillouin Zone and Band structure for 1D Solids

primitive cell in reciprocal space


Brillouin Zone and Band structure for 1D and 2D Solids
Density of States
Density of States in 1-D Semiconductors
Density of States in 1-D Semiconductors
Density of States in 1-D Semiconductors
Density of States in 2-D Semiconductors
Density of States in 3-D Semiconductors
Density of States in 3-D Semiconductors
What is a Semiconductor?
◼ Semiconductors are some of the purest solid materials in existence, because any trace of
impurity atoms called “dopants” can change the electrical properties of semiconductors
drastically.
◼ Unintentional impurity level:
1 impurity atom per 109 semiconductor atom.
◼ Intentional impurity ranging from 1 per 108 to 1 per 103.

No recognizable
long-range order
Entire solid is made up of
Completely ordered atoms in an orderly
in segments three- dimensional array

polycrystalline amorphous crystalline


◼ Most devices fabricated today employ crystalline semiconductors.
Semiconductor Materials
Elemental: Si, Ge, C

Compound: IV-IV SiC


III-V GaAs, GaN
II-VI CdSe

Alloy: Si1-xGex
AlxGa1-xAs
Crystal Growth Until Device Fabrication
n-type Semiconductor
• The addition of arsenic to silicon creates what is known as an n-type
semiconductor (n for negative), because it is the electrons close to the
conduction band that will eventually carry electrical current.

The new arsenic energy levels just below the conduction band are
called donor levels because an electron there is easily donated to the
conduction band.
Extra weakly bound valence electron from As lies in an energy level
close to the empty conduction band. These levels donate electrons to
the conduction band.
Ga has only three electrons and creates a hole in one
of the bonds. As electrons move into the hole the hole
moves driving electric current

Impurity creates empty energy


levels just above the filled
valence band
PN Junctions
Donors

N-type
P-type

I – V +
I

N P
V
Reverse bias Forward bias diode
symbol

A PN junction is present in every semiconductor device.


Energy Band Diagram and Depletion Layer of a PN Junction

N-region P-region
(a) Ef
Ec

Ec Ef
(b)
Ev
Ev
Ec

(c) Ef
Ev A depletion layer
exists at the PN
Neutral
N-region
Depletion
layer
Neutral
P-region junction. n  0 and
Ec
p  0 in the
(d) Ef depletion layer.
Ev
Doping Profile of “Idealized Junctions”

p n p n
n p
Qualitative Electrostatics

Band diagram

Built in-potential

From e=-dV/dx

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