Ans: Basically materials are classified into three types depending upon the gap between the conduction band and the valance band called as forbidden energy gap. The three types are mentioned below: 1. Conductors: The valance band and conduction band almost overlap hence they posses high conductivity of about 102 to108. 2. Insulators: The band gap is very high i.e.>3ev to15ev.hence are poor conductors. 3. Semiconductors: These materials lie in between conductors and insulators with band gap of 1ev hence posses moderate conductivity.
Q.) Write a note on n-type semiconductor.
Ans: When a small amount of pentavalent impurity (arsenic,antimony,or phosphorous)is added to semiconductor,it is called n-type semiconductor.When arsenic is added to silicon,a large no.of free electrons become available. As arsenic is a pentavalent impurity its four electrons form covalent bond with four silicon atom and one electron remains free. Hence in this way, for each arsenic atom added one free electron is released. Hence electrons become majority carrier in n-type of semiconductor.When thermal energy is applied few electron-hole pair generates .Holes are the minority carriers. The impurity that produces n-type semiconductor is known as donor impurity.
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Q.) Write about p-type semiconductor.
Ans: When a trivalent impurity (gallium, boron or indium) is added to semiconductor then it is called as p-type semiconductor. When boron is trivalent impurity, three electrons form covalent bond with three silicon atoms and the fourth remain vacant which lead to the formation of holes. Hence for every boron atom added to silicon one hole is created per Boron atom. When thermal energy is applied, electron-holes pairs are formed. Hence in p-type holes become the majority carrier. The impurity which produce p-type semiconductor is called as acceptor impurities.
Q.) Give the classification of Semiconductor.
Ans: There are two basic groups or classifications that can be used to define the different semiconductor types:
Intrinsic material: An intrinsic type of semiconductor material
made to be very pure chemically. As a result it possesses a very low conductivity level having very few number of charge carriers, namely holes and electrons, which it possesses in equal quantities.
Extrinsic material: Extrinsic types of semiconductor are those
where a small amount of impurity has been added to the basic intrinsic material. This 'doping' uses an element from a different periodic table group and in this way it will either have more or less electrons in the valence band than the semiconductor itself. This creates either an excess or shortage of electrons. In this way two types of semiconductor are available: Electrons are negatively charged carriers.
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Depending upon the impurity added they are further classified as
1.n-type semiconductor and 2.p-type semiconductor.