DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH

Name : P.Kumar Babu

DESIGNATION : LECTURER IN E.C.E
Branch : Electronics & commu. Engg.
INSTITUTE : G.P.W,SURYAPET
YEAR/SEMESTER : III Sem
SUBJECT : ELECTRONICS-I
SUBJECT CODE : EE-305
TOPIC : SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
Duration : 50 min.
SUB.TOPIC : ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
INSULATORS,CONDUCTORS AND
SEMICONDUCTORS
Teaching Aids : PPT, Photographs, animations

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 Recap

• Already we discussed about the

• Passive components

• i) Resistors

• ii) Capacitors

• Iii) Inductors

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 OBJECTIVES

Upon the completion of this topic the student will be able to

know

•Electrical characteristics of conductors,

Insulators, and Semiconductors.

•which material behaves as conductor, or

Insulator, or semiconductor.

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Based on electrical conductivity the materials are
classified as

• Conductors

• Insulators

• Semi-conductors

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Conductors

A Material which conducts electricity easily.

Examples: Copper, silver, Alluminium.

Insulators

Insulators are the materials which are bad

conductors of electricity

Examples: Glass, Rubber, Quartz.

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Semiconductors

Semiconductors are the materials the properties lies

between conductors and insulators.

Examples: Germanium, Silicon .

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 Points to Remember

• The electrical conductivity of a material depends on the

number of electrons in the outer most orbit.

• Conductor has less than 4 electrons in the outer most orbit.

• An insulator has more than 4 electrons in the outer most orbit

• Semiconductor has exactly 4 electrons in the outer most orbit.

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Electrical characteristics of conductors
i) The
resistivity of conductor is less. It lies in the
range between10-8Ωm to 10-6Ωm.

ii) The conductivity of conductor is more. It lies in

the range between 106s/m to 108s/m.

iii) No forbidden energy gap between valence band

and conduction band.

iv) Have 1 or 2 or 3 free valence electrons.

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 Electrical characteristics of Insulator

i) The resistivity of insulator is more. It lies in the

range of 1012Ωm to 1018Ωm.

ii) The conductivity of insulator is negligible. It

lies in the range of 10-18S/m to10-12S/m.

iii) Forbidden gap energy is up to 6ev.

iv) Have fully filled valence band and conduction band.

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Electrical characteristics of semiconductors

The resistivity of semiconductor is less than

insulators but more than conductors lies in the
range of 100Ωm to 102Ωm.

The conductivity of semiconductor is more than

insulator and less than conductors. It lies in the
range of 10-2S/m to100S/m.

Have partially filled valence band and conduction

band.

Forbidden gap energy is up to 1.1ev.

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 Summary

We have discussed about

Materials how they behave as conductor or insulator

or semiconductor.

Electrical characteristics of insulators, conductors

and semiconductors.

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 Quiz
1)How much is the forbidden energy gap for
semiconductor

(a) 20ev

(b) 6ev

(c) 1.1ev

(d) 0ev

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2) Below given materials which is a conductor

(a) Glass

(b) Germanium

(c) Silicon

(d) Copper

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3) How much is the forbidden energy gap for
insulator

(a) 0ev

(b) 20ev

(c) 1.1ev

(d) 6ev

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 good
1. A conductor is _________ conductor of
electricity.

2. At room temperature semi condutor

conductor
behaves as________

partially filled
3. A semiconductor is________
valence band and conduction band.

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 Frequently asked Questions

4. State the electrical characteristics of conductor?

7. Mention any four electrical characteristics of insulator?

3. List the electrical characteristics of semiconductor?

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