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NEET UG 2026 » NEET UG Study Material » Physics » Semiconductors
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Semiconductors

Semiconductors, Intrinsic semiconductors, Extrinsic semiconductors, p-type semiconductors

Table of Content
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A semiconductor is a material, usually a strong substance component or compound, that can lead power under specific conditions, however not others, making it a fantastic tool for controlling the progression of the electrical flow. A semiconductor is a translucent strong between a channel and a separator as far as electrical conductivity.

Insulators, semiconductors, and conductors are the three essential sorts of strong-state materials. The conductivities (and comparing resistivities = 1/σ) related for certain fundamental materials in every one of the three gatherings are displayed in the outline given beneath. Insulators, like melded quartz and glass, have low conductivities of 10−18 to 10−10 siemens per centimeter, though conductors, like aluminum, have high conductivities of 104 to 106 siemens per centimeter. Semiconductor’s conductivities fall somewhere in the middle of these two limits, and they’re usually impacted by temperature, light, attractive fields.

Semiconductors can direct power under ideal conditions. This recognizes it as an excellent material for leading power in a controlled way. Unlike conductors, charge transporters in semiconductors are created exclusively by outer energy.

It permits a specific number of valence electrons to jump into the conduction band and cross the energy hole, leaving an equivalent number of empty energy states, for example, openings(holes). The significance of electron and hole conduction is comparative.

  1. Resistivity: 10-5 to 106 Ω m.
  2. Conductivity: 105 to 10-6 mho/m.
  3. Temperature resistance coefficient: Negative.
  4. Electrons and holes trigger the current stream.
  5. Why does the resistance of semiconductors decline as the temperature rises?

The distinction in control transporter thickness among conductors and semiconductors causes the distinction in resistivity. The resistivity of semiconductors diminishes as the temperature rises because the quantity of charge transporters increases quickly, bringing about a fragmentary change in resistivity.

Semiconductors have an assortment of significant properties, including:

  1. At zero Kelvin, a semiconductor fills in as a cover. It capacities as a conductor as the temperature increases.
  2. Semiconductors can be doped to make the semiconductor gadgets ideal for energy transformation, switches, and intensifiers because of their unique electrical properties.
  3. There are fewer power losses.
  4. They have higher resistivity than conductors but lower resistivity than insulators.
  5. As the temperature increases, the obstruction of semiconductor materials diminishes and the other way around.

Kinds of Semiconductors:

Semiconductors arrive in various shapes and sizes. Semiconductors are partitioned into two classifications:

  1. Intrinsic Semiconductor.
  2. Extrinsic Semiconductor.

Intrinsic Semiconductor:

Synthetically, a natural type of semiconductor material is made to be exceptionally Intrinsic. There is just one type of element in it. The most well-known natural semiconductor components are germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si). They have four electrons in their valence shell (tetravalent). At outright zero temperature, they structure a covalent bond with the iota. Attributable to impacts, a couple of electrons become unbounded and allowed to go through the grid as the temperature increases, bringing about a nonappearance in its unique area (hole). These free electrons and holes uphold the conduction of power in the semiconductor. The quantity of negative and positive charge transporters is equivalent. Present streams in Intrinsic semiconductors because of the movement of free electrons and openings. The total current is the amount of the thermally initiated electron current Ie and the opening current Ih.

Ie + Ih =  I (Total current  Current)

Extrinsic Semiconductor.:

It is a sort of semiconductor that has no natural properties.

By adding a few appropriate substitute particles known as impurities, the conductivity of semiconductors can be enormously improved. Doping is the strategy for bringing impure molecules into an Extrinsic semiconductor. A dopant part is only 1 out of 107 particles in a pure semiconductor. Extrinsic semiconductors are additionally arranged into the accompanying classifications:

  1. N-type semiconductor.
  2. P-type semiconductor.

The contrast among Intrinsic Semiconductors and Extrinsic Semiconductors coming up next is a portion of the vital differentiation among extraneous and characteristic semiconductors:

• Intrinsic semiconductors exist in their most flawless structure consistently, while extrinsic semiconductors are made by doping impurities in Extrinsic semiconductors.

• At room temperature, Intrinsic semiconductors have poor electrical conductivity while extrinsic semiconductors have a high electrical conductivity contrasted with different materials.

• The quantity of electrons rises to the number of openings in Intrinsic semiconductors while numbers are inconsistent in an extrinsic semiconductor

• Intrinsic semiconductors are exclusively dependent on temperature, while extrinsic semiconductors are impacted by temperature and the quantity of dopants present.

• Intrinsic semiconductors are not further arranged, while n-type and p-type semiconductors are two sorts of semiconductors in extrinsic semiconductors.

• Silicon and germanium are two instances of intrinsic semiconductors, while Si and Ge doped with Al, In, P, As, and different components are instances of extrinsic semiconductors.

N-type:

  1. Mainly as a result of the electrons.
  2. I = Ie and ne >> nh
  3. Electrons are in the larger part, and holes are in the minority.

At the point when a pentavalent pollutant (P, As, Sb, Bi) is doped into an extrinsic semiconductor (Silicon or Germanium), four of the five valence electrons secure with the four electrons of Ge or Si.

The dopant’s fifth electron is freed. Accordingly, the debasement molecule gives a free electron to the grid for conduction and is designated “Donor”.

P-type:

  1. Mainly as a result of the holes.
  2. I = Ih and nh >> ne.
  3. Holes are in the larger part, and electrons are in the minority.

At the point when an extrinsic semiconductor is doped with trivalent pollution (B, Al, In, Ga), the debasement’s three valence electrons security with three of the semiconductor’s four valence electrons.

Utilizations of semiconductors:

  1. Semiconductors are utilized in various applications.
  2. Let’s gander at how semiconductors are utilized in regular daily existence. Practically all electronic gadgets contain semiconductors. Our lives would be different, assuming that they didn’t exist.
  3. Their reliability, smallness, minimal expense, and directed conductivity are beneficial.

Semiconductors’ Applications in Everyday Life:

  1. Semiconductor gadgets are utilized to make temperature sensors.
  2. They are utilized in 3D printers.
  3. Microchips and self-driving vehicles use it.

4. Calculators, sun-powered plates, PCs, and other electronic gadgets utilize this material.
5. Semiconductors are utilized in MOSFET, which are utilized as switches in electrical circuits.

Semiconductors in Industrial Applications:

  1. Semiconductor’s physical and compound properties permit them to do innovative wonders like microprocessors, semiconductors, LEDs, and sun oriented cells.
  2. Transistors and other controlling gadgets made of semiconductor materials make the chip used to drive the activity of room ships, trains, robots, and different gadgets.

Conclusion

Semiconductors are those devices made from materials that have a conductivity between conductors and nonconductors or insulators (such as most rubber). Semiconductors can be pure elements (Intrinsic Semiconductor), silicon or germanium, or compounds such as gallium arsenide or cadmium selenide. In a process called doping, small amounts of impurities are added to pure semiconductors causing large changes in the material’s conductivity. These are called Extrinsic Semiconductors.

Due to their role in fabricating electronic devices, semiconductors are essential in our lives. Imagine life without electronic devices. There would be no radios, TV, computers, video games, and poor medical diagnostic equipment. Semiconductors arrive in various shapes and sizes. Semiconductors are partitioned into two classifications: Intrinsic Semiconductors and Extrinsic Semiconductors. Intrinsic semiconductors are pure, where Extrinsic Semiconductors have impurity added with them and their conductivity higher than Intrinsic Semiconductors. An extrinsic semiconductor is classified into two types which are N-type Semiconductor and P-type Semiconductor.

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