Governmentpolytechnic,washim
Academicyear20-21
Firstsemistar
Electricalengineeringdepartment
Title.:Types of semiconductor
Submitted by:
RollNo. Namesofcandidate EnrollementNo. SeatNo.
21 LokhandeKaushalGajanan 2000310087 317281
22 LokhandeYashSantosh 2000310088 317282
23 MalveVedantSunil 2000310089 317283
24 ManwarVivekKishor 2000310090 317284
25 MaskeSumitSubhash 2000310091 317285
26 MatrePragatiArvind 2000310092 317286
27 MawalePranavGopilal 2000310093 317287
28 MohadeSaurabhRamrao 2000310094 317288
29 MoraskarMuktaGajanan 2000310095 317289
30 MoreTusharDilip 2000310096 317290
Guided by Principal H.o.d
Prof.S.R.Pachapor Dr.V.R.Mankar Electrical Department
What are Semiconductors?
Semiconductors are the materials which have a conductivity between
conductors (generally metals) and non-conductors or insulators (such
as ceramics). Semiconductors can be compounds such as gallium
arsenide or pure elements, such as germanium or silicon. Physics
explains the theories, properties and mathematical approach governing
semiconductors.
Examples of Semiconductors:
Gallium arsenide, germanium, and silicon are some of the
most commonly used semiconductors. Silicon is used in electronic
circuit fabrication and gallium arsenide is used in solar cells, laser
diodes, etc.
What is Fermi Level in Semiconductors?
Fermi level (denoted by EF) is present between the valence and
conduction bands. It is the highest occupied molecular orbital at
absolute zero. The charge carriers in this state have their own quantum
states and generally do not interact with each other. When the
temperature rises above absolute zero, these charge carriers will begin
to occupy states above Fermi level.
In a p-type semiconductor, there is an increase in the density of unfilled
states. Thus, accommodating more electrons at the lower energy levels.
However, in an n-type semiconductor, the density of states increases,
therefore, accommodating more electrons at higher energy levels.
Properties of Semiconductors
Semiconductors can conduct electricity under preferable conditions or
circumstances. This unique property makes it an excellent material to
conduct electricity in a controlled manner as required.
Unlike conductors, the charge carriers in semiconductors arise only
because of external energy (thermal agitation). It causes a certain
number of valence electron to cross the energy gap and jump into the
conduction band, leaving an equal amount of unoccupied energy states,
i.e. holes. Conduction due to electrons and holes are equally important.
Resistivity: 10-5 to 106 Ωm
Conductivity: 105 to 10-6 mho/m
Temperature coefficient of resistance: Negative
Current Flow: Due to electrons and holes
Why does the Resistivity of Semiconductors go down with
Temperature?
The difference in resistivity between conductors and semiconductors is
due to their difference in charge carrier density.
The resistivity of semiconductors decreases with temperature because
the number of charge carriers increases rapidly with increase in
temperature, making the fractional change i.e. the temperature
coefficient negative.
Some Important Properties of Semiconductors are:
1. Semiconductor acts like an insulator at Zero Kelvin. On increasing
the temperature, it works as a conductor.
2. Due to their exceptional electrical properties, semiconductors can
be modified by doping to make semiconductor devices suitable
for energy conversion, switches, and amplifiers.
3. Lesser power losses.
4. Semiconductors are smaller in size and possess less weight.
5. Their resistivity is higher than conductors but lesser than
insulators.
6. The resistance of semiconductor materials decreases with the
increase in temperature and vice-versa.
Types of Semiconductors
Semiconductors can be classified as:
Intrinsic Semiconductor
Extrinsic Semiconductor
Intrinsic Semiconductor
An intrinsic type of semiconductor material is made to be very pure
chemically. It is made up of only a single type of element.
Conduction Mechanism in Case of Intrinsic Semiconductors (a) In absence of electric field
(b) In presence of electric Field
Germanium (Ge) and Silicon (Si) are the most common type of intransic
semiconductor element. They have four valence electrons (tetravalent).
They are bound to the atom by covalent bond at absolute zero
temperature.
When the temperature rises, due to collisions, few electrons are
unbounded and become free to move through the lattice, thus creating
an absence in its original position (hole). These free electrons and holes
contribute to the conduction of electricity in the semiconductor. The
negative and positive charge carriers are equal in number.
The thermal energy is capable of ionizing a few atoms in the lattice, and
hence their conductivity is less.
The Lattice of Pure Silicon Semiconductor at Different
Temperatures
At absolute zero Kelvin temperature: At this temperature,
the covalent bond are very strong and there are no free electrons
and the semiconductor behaves as a perfect insulator.
Above absolute temperature: With the increase in temperature
few valence electrons jump into the conduction band and hence it
behaves like a poor conductor.
Energy Band Diagram of Intrinsic Semiconductor
The energy band diagram of an intrinsic semiconductor is shown below:
(a) Intrinsic Semiconductor at T = 0 Kelvin, behaves like an insulator (b) At t>0, four
thermally generated electron pairs
In intrinsic semiconductors, current flows due to the motion of free
electrons as well as holes. The total current is the sum of the electron
current Ie due to thermally generated electrons and the hole current I h
Total Current (I) = Ie + Ih
For an intrinsic semiconductor, at finite temperature, the probability of
electrons to exist in conduction band decreases exponentially with
increasing bandgap (Eg)
n = n0e-Eg/2.Kb.T
Where,
Eg = Energy bandgap
Extrinsic Semiconductor
The conductivity of semiconductors can be greatly improved by
introducing a small number of suitable replacement atoms called
IMPURITIES. The process of adding impurity atoms to the pure
semiconductor is called DOPING. Usually, only 1 atom in 10 7 is replaced
by a dopant atom in the doped semiconductor. An extransic
semiconductors can be further classified into:
N-type Semiconductor
P-type Semiconductor
Classification of Extrinsic Semiconductor
N-Type Semiconductor
Mainly due to electrons
Entirely neutral
I = Ih and nh >> ne
Majority Electrons and Minority Holes
When a pure semiconductor (Silicon or germanium) is doped by
pentavalent impurity (P, As, Sb, Bi) then, four electrons out of five
valence electrons bonds with the four electrons of Ge or Si.
The fifth electron of the dopant is set free. Thus, the impurity atom
donates a free electron for conduction in the lattice and is called
Donar.
Since the number of free electron increases by the addition of an
impurity, the negative charge carriers increase. Hence, it is called n-type
semiconductor.
Crystal as a whole is neutral, but the donor atom becomes an immobile
positive ion. As conduction is due to a large number of free electrons,
the electrons in the n-type semiconductor are the MAJORITY CARRIERS
and holes are the MINORITY CARRIERS.
P-Type Semiconductor
Mainly due to holes
Entirely neutral
I = Ih and nh >> ne
Majority Holes and Minority Electrons
When a pure semiconductor is doped with a trivalent impurity (B, Al, In,
Ga ) then, the three valence electrons of the impurity bonds with three of
the four valence electrons of the semiconductor.
This leaves an absence of electron (hole) in the impurity. These impurity
atoms which are ready to accept bonded electrons are called
Acceptors.
With the increase in the number of impurities, holes (the positive charge
carriers) are increased. Hence, it is called p-type semiconductor.
Crystal as a whole is neutral, but the acceptors become an immobile
negative ion. As conduction is due to a large number of holes, the holes
in the p-type semiconductor are MAJORITY CARRIERS and electrons are
MINORITY CARRIERS.
