Fundamentals of Semiconductor

Chapter 9

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Chapter Objectives
Define Semiconductors

Differentiate between Intrinsic and extrinsic

semiconductor Explain the Current flow in semiconductor Define N-type and P-type semiconductor Explain Use of semiconductor in computers

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Recall
Transformer helps in transferring electrical energy

from one circuit to another The transformer action is based on a principle called as electromagnetic mutual inductance. Different types of transformers are developed for different applications. The High frequency Transformer is the backbone of the Switched Mode Power Supplies. In power applications, transformer transforms the voltage from one value to another.
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Semiconductor
Semiconductors are the materials whose ability to

conduct electricity falls between that of conductors and insulators.

When an atom contains exactly 4 electrons in its

outer shell, it does not readily give up or accept electrons. Elements which contain atoms of this type do not make good insulators or conductors and are therefore referred to as semiconductors.

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Semiconductor
Carbon is a typical example of a semiconductor

material.
Other example for semiconductor materials are

Germanium and Silicon.

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Question for GD

Time Limit 2mins

What is the difference between conductor

and insulator?

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Intrinsic semiconductor
An intrinsic semiconductor is a pure semiconductor

which does not have any doping agent (an impurity added to crystal lattice). In an intrinsic semiconductors, the number of charge carrier depends upon property of the material not on impurity present. The number of holes and electrons are equal in intrinsic semiconductors.

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Question for GD

Time Limit 2 mins

What do you mean by Intrinsic semiconductor?

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Extrinsic Semiconductors
An extrinsic semiconductor is a semiconductor whose

electrical conductivity can be increased by adding the trace amounts of other elements such as impurities in the material. This process is known as doping. There are two types of impurities added to Ge and Si Crystal. Pentavalent material - it is made up of atoms which have five valence electrons.

Trivalent material it is materials has three valence electrons.

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Question for GD

Time Limit -2mins

What do you mean by Extrinsic semiconductor?

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Current flow in a semiconductor

The flow of current is determined with the help of

polarity of applied voltage and its effect when we connect external battery to p-n junction.

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N-Type Semiconductor - I
The semiconductors are referred to as N-type when

there are large number of negatively charged free electrons within the structure
When voltage is applied to an N-type semiconductor,

free electrons contributed by the donor atoms will flow towards the positive terminal of the battery

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N-Type Semiconductor - II
The number of free electrons provided by the donor

atoms will greatly exceed the number of holes and electrons that are produced by the breaking of covalent bonds.
The electrons, being in majority, are therefore

referred to as majority carriers while the holes which are in minority, are referred to minority carriers.

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N-Type Semiconductor - III

The following is the diagrammatic representation of

conduction in an N-type semiconductor.

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Question for GD

Time Limit 2mins

Which is majority carrier in N type semiconductor

material?

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P-Type Semiconductor - I
The semiconductors are referred to as P-type when

there are large number of positively charged holes within the structure
When voltage is applied to a P-type semiconductor,

holes provided by the acceptor atoms move from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of the battery

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P-Type Semiconductor - II
These holes are produced as electrons break away

from covalent bonds to create electron-hole pairs and are therefore produced in the same manner as the holes which appear in a pure semiconductor
The holes are attracted toward the negative terminal

while the corresponding electrons produced are attracted toward the positive terminal

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P-Type Semiconductor - III

The holes, being majority are referred to as majority

carriers and the electrons, which are in minority, are referred to as minority carriers The following is the diagrammatic representation of conduction in an N-type semiconductor

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Question for GD

Time Limit 2mins

Which is majority carrier in P type semiconductor

material?

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PN Junction
P-N junction is formed by joining P-type and

N-type semiconductors together.

A P-doped semiconductor is conductive but

N-doped semiconductor is not conductive.

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 The layer formed them is called as depletion

layer.

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Use of semiconductor in computers

Computer memory is made up of semiconductor

materials because it provides reliability.

CPU contains number of integrated circuits, which

are made up of semiconductor materials.

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Summary - I
Semiconductors are generally used in the

construction of transistors
Current flow in a semiconductor consists of both

electrons and holes, where holes function as positively charged particles and electrons as negatively charged particles.

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Summary - II
Doping of intrinsic materials leads to the creation of

P-type or N-type materials

N-type material consists of large number of free

electrons or negatively charged particles.

P-type material consists of large number of holes or

positively charged particles

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Mind Map
Draw a mind map to summarize this chapter

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