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The Atom
The nucleus contains protons and neutrons.
Semiconductors
Semiconductor - An element that is neither an insulator nor a conductor. Semiconductors contain four valence-band electrons.
Three common semiconductor elements are silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), and carbon (C).
Covalent Bonding
A means of holding atoms together by sharing valence electrons.
The center atom (at right) is electrically stable because its covalent bond is complete. An intrinsic (pure) silicon is one that has no impurities .
In an intrinsic semiconductor, there are relatively few free electrons. Pure semiconductive materials are neither good conductors nor good insulators. Intrinsic semiconductive materials must be modified by increasing the free electrons and holes to increase its conductivity and make it useful for electronic devices By adding impurities, n-type and p-type extrinsic semiconductive material can be produced
Energy band diagram for a pure silicon crystal with unexcited atoms. There are no electrons in the conduction band
Free electron current in intrinsic silicon is produced by the movement of thermally generated free electrons in the conduction band.
Creation of electron-hole pairs in a silicon crystal. An electron in the conduction band is a free electron.
Electron-hole pairs in a silicon crystal. Free electrons are being generated continuously while some recombine with holes.
Doping
The process of adding impurity elements to intrinsic semiconductors to increase and control conductivity within the material. Trivalent element One that has three valence electrons. p-type material A semiconductor that has added trivalent impurities. Pentavalent element One that has five valence electrons. n-type material A semiconductor that has added pentavalent impurities.
N-type Material
A semiconductor that has added pentavalent impurities. The pentavalent atom (As) has a fifth valence electron that is not a part of the covalent bond. Relatively little energy is required to force the excess electron into the conduction band.
The material contains the same overall number of protons and electrons, so it remains electrically neutral.
P-type Material
A semiconductor that has added trivalent impurities. The bond requires one more valence electron than the trivalent atom (Al) is capable of providing. The electron shortage results in the bond having a valence-band hole.
The material contains the same overall number of protons and electrons, so it remains electrically neutral.
The PNJunction
When the junction is formed, free-electrons in the n-type material diffuse (wander) across the junction to the p-type material. An electron crossing the junction into the p-type material gets trapped in a valence-band hole.
Bias
- A potential applied to a pn junction to obtain a desired mode of operation. Forward bias A potential used to reduce the resistance of a pn junction.
Forward Bias
A pn junction is forward biased when the applied potential causes the n-type material to be more negative than the p-type material.
Bulk Resistance
The combined resistance of the n-type and p-type materials in a forward-biased pn junction.
RB = Rp + R n
Forward Voltage
Forward voltage (VF) is the voltage across a forward biased pn junction. VF is greater than the junction barrier potential. VF 0.7 V (for silicon) VF 0.3 V (for germanium)
Reverse Bias
A pn junction is reverse biased when the applied potential causes the n-type material to be more positive than the p-type material.
Forward low
Extremely
Reverse high
Extremely