What is semiconductor? Classify the semiconductor material?
Answer: -
Semiconductors are materials whose electrical properties lie between Conductors and Insulators.
Common elements such as carbon, silicon, and germanium are semiconductors. Silicon is the
best and most widely used semiconductor.
Define intrinsic semiconductor or undoped semiconductor or i-type semiconductor and
Extrinsic Semiconductor?
Answer:
Intrinsic semiconductor: -
A Semiconductor in its extremely pure form is said to be an intrinsic semiconductor. An intrinsic
semiconductor is an undoped semiconductor. An intrinsic semiconductor, also called an undoped
semiconductor or i-type semiconductor.
The properties of this pure semiconductor are as follows −
The electrons and holes are solely created by thermal excitation. no impurity atoms are
added to it
the number of excited electrons and the number of holes are equal: n = p
Its electrical conductivity is low.
Its electrical conductivity is a function of temperature alone.
The conduction capability is small at room temperature.
Examples: pure silicon and germanium.
Extrinsic Semiconductor:
In order to increase the conduction capability of intrinsic semiconductor, it is better to add some
impurities. This process of adding impurities is called as Doping. Now, this doped intrinsic
semiconductor is called as an Extrinsic Semiconductor.
The number of free electrons and holes is never equal. There is excess of electrons in n-
type semi-conductors and excess of holes in p-type semi-conductors.
Its electrical conductivity is high. Its
electrical conductivity depends upon the temperature as well as on the quantity of
impurity atoms doped the structure.
Examples: silicon “Si” and germanium “Ge” crystals with impurity atoms of As, Sb, P
etc. or In B, Aℓ etc.
What is the formation of PN-Junction?
P-n junctions are formed by joining n-type and p-type semiconductor materials, as shown below.
The P side is called as anode and N side is called as cathode. Since the n-type region has a high
electron concentration and the p-type a high hole concentration, electrons diffuse from the n-type
side to the p-type side. Similarly, holes flow by diffusion from the p-type side to the n-type side.
When a p-type semiconductor material is suitably joined to n-type semiconductor the contact
surface is called a p-n junction.
An electric field Ê forms between the positive ion cores in the n-type material and negative ion
cores in the p-type material. This region is called the depletion region. The PN Junction forms a
basic semiconductor device called diode.
If an external dc supply voltage is applied to any electronic device, it is called as biasing.
Forward Biased P-N Junction
When we connect p-type region of a junction with the positive terminal of a voltage source or
battery and n-type region with the negative terminal of the voltage source, then the junction is
said to be forward biased. When forward biased, a diode acts as a conductor and current flows.
If the voltage applied on the p-n junction diode is further increased, then even more number of
free electrons and holes are generated in the p-n junction diode. This large number of free
electrons and holes further reduces the depletion region (positive and negative ions). Hence, the
electric current in the p-n junction diode increases. Thus, the depletion region of a p-n junction
diode decreases with increase in voltage. In other words, the electric current in the p-n junction
diode increases with the increase in voltage.
Reverse biased p-n junction
The process by which, a p-n junction diode blocks the electric current in the presence of applied
voltage is called reverse biased p-n junction diode.
In reverse biased p-n junction diode, the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the n-
type semiconductor material and the negative terminal of the battery is connected to the p-type
semiconductor material. When reverse biased, a diode acts as an insulator and no current flows.
When the external voltage is applied to the p-n junction diode in such a way that, negative
terminal is connected to the p-type semiconductor and positive terminal is connected to the n-
type semiconductor, holes from the p-side are attracted towards the negative terminal whereas
free from the n-side are attracted towards the positive terminal.
Zener Diode
Definition: A heavily doped semiconductor diode which is designed to operate in reverse
direction is known as the Zener diode. In other words, the diode which is specially designed for
optimizing the breakdown region is known as the Zener diode.
Symbol of zener diode
The symbol of zener diode is shown in below figure. Zener diode consists of two terminals:
cathode and anode.
In zener diode, electric current flows from both anode to cathode and cathode to anode.
Construction of Zener diode
There are various methods which are used for manufacturing Zener diodes such as diffused
structure, diffused and passivated structure and alloy diffused structure. In diffused structure
of zener diode, two N and P substrates diffused together and had metallic layers deposited on
both the sides to connect anode and cathode terminals on both the sides. In passivated structure
of a Zener diode, the edges of the junction are covered by the layer of oxides of Silica.
Alloy diffused structures have all junction covered by the layer of Silica oxides to prevent the
junctions. In general alloy diffused structures gives better performance at lower Zener voltages.
On the contrary, passivated and diffused structure gives better performance at higher voltages.
Working Principle of Zener Diode
A Zener diode is similar to conventional PN Junction diode except that it is properly doped to
achieve sharp breakdown voltage. There are two types of mechanism by which breakdown can
occur at reverse PN junction that are avalanche and Zener breakdown.
Operation of Zener Diode:
1. Zener diodes are normally used only in the reverse bias direction.
2. It means that the anode must be connected to the negative side of the voltage source and
the cathode must be connected to the positive side.
3. A main difference between zener diodes and regular silicon diodes is the way they are used
in the circuits.
4. It is primarily used to regulate the circuit voltage as it has constant VZ.
5. A large change in IR will cause only a small change in VZ. It means that a zener diode can
be used as an alternate current path. The constant VZ developed across the diode can then
be applied to a load.
6. Thus the load voltage remains at constant by altering the current flow through the zener
diode.
There are some important applications of Zener diode which are given below,
1. The zener diode is used in voltage regulator circuits to provide regulated DC voltage.
2. The zener diode is used for meter protection against damage from accidental application.
3. The zener diode is used in as a fixed reference voltage in transistor biasing circuits.
4. The zener diode is used as a peak clipper or limiter in wave shaping circuits.
5. The zener diode is used in power supply circuits.
6. The zener diode is used in Surge suppression circuitry for device protection.
