DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : K. Janakamma
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : ECE
Institute : GPT, Ananthapur
Year/Semester : 1 s t- year
Subject : Electronic components and devices

Subject Code : EC-105

Topic : Semiconductor Diode
Duration : 50 mts
Sub Topic : Comparison of semiconductors
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Teaching Aids : ppt, animations.
Recap

We have already discussed about

• Energy bands.

• Types of semiconductors and its formation.

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Types of Semiconductors

Semiconductors can be classified as:

3. Intrinsic Semiconductor.

5. Extrinsic Semiconductor.

Extrinsic Semiconductors are further classified as:

a. n-type Semiconductors.
b. p-type Semiconductors.

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Intrinsic Semiconductor

• Semiconductor in pure
form is known as Intrinsic
Semiconductor.
Si Si Si
FREE ELECTRON
• Ex. Pure Germanium, Pure
Silicon.
Si Si Si
HOLE
• At room temp. no of
electrons equal to no. of
holes.
Si Si Si
Fig 1.

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Intrinsic semiconductor energy band diagram

Conduction Band

FERMI
Energy in ev

LEVEL

Valence Band
Fig 2.
Fermi level lies in the middle
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Extrinsic
Semiconductor

• When we add an impurity to pure semiconductor to

increase the charge carriers then it becomes an Extrinsic
Semiconductor.

• In extrinsic semiconductor without breaking the covalent

bonds we can increase the charge carriers.

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Comparison of semiconductors

Intrinsic Semiconductor Extrinsic Semiconductor

2. It is in pure form.
2. It is formed by adding
trivalent or pentavalent
impurity to a pure
semiconductor.

2. Holes and electrons are 4. No. of holes are more in p-

equal. type and no. of electrons
are more in n-type.

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(Cont.,)

3. Fermi level lies in 3. Fermi level lies near

between valence and valence band in p-type and
conduction Bands. near conduction band in n-type.

4. Ratio of majority and 4. Ratio of majority and

minority carriers is minority carriers are equal.
unity.

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Comparison between n-type and p-type
semiconductors

N-type P-type
• Pentavalent impurities • Trivalent impurities are
are added. added.
• Majority carriers are • Majority carriers are
electrons. holes.
• Minority carriers are • Minority carriers are
electrons.
holes.
• Fermi level is near the • Fermi level is near the
valence band.
conduction band.

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Summary

We have discussed

• Comparison between Intrinsic &

Extrinsic Semiconductor.

• Comparison between N-type & P-

type Semiconductors.

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Quiz

1. Ratio of majority and minority carriers in intrinsic

semiconductor is
a. unity
b. greater than unity

c. less than unity.

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2. Impurities added to p-type
semiconductor are

a. trivalent

b. tetravalent

c. pentavalent.

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3. Fermi level in n-type lies

a. near the conduction band.

b. near the valence band.
c. in the middle of CB and VB.

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4. Minority carriers in p-type is

a. electrons

b. holes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Comparison between Intrinsic &

Extrinsic Semiconductor.

2. Comparison between N-type & P-

type Semiconductors.

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