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Semiconductor Devices and Electronics Circuits

Notes of physics

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10 views4 pages

Semiconductor Devices and Electronics Circuits

Notes of physics

Uploaded by

dm8952934
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Semiconductor Devices and Electronics Circuits

-S. Swain
Classification of solids on the basis of conductivity
(i) Conductor Conductors are those substances through which electricity can
pass easily, e.g., all metals are conductors.

(ii) Insulator Insulators are those substances through which electricity cannot
pass, e.g., wood. rubber, mica etc.

(iii) Semiconductor Semiconductors are those substances whose conductivity


lies between conductors and insulators. e.g., germanium, silicon, carbon
etc.

Energy Bands of Solids


Energy Band
In a crystal due to interatomic interaction valence electrons of one atom are shared
by more than one atom in the crystal. Now splitting of energy levels takes place. The
collection of these closely spaced energy levels is called an energy band.
1. Valence Band
This energy band contains valence electrons. This band may be partially or
completely filled with electrons but never be empty. The electrons in this band are
not capable of gaining energy from external electric field to take part in conduction
of current.
2. Conduction Band
This band contains conduction electrons. This band is either empty or partially filled
with electrons. Electrons present in this band take part in the conduction of current.
3. Forbidden Band
This band is completely empty. The minimum energy required to shift an electron
from valence band to conduction band is called band gap (Eg).

Types of Semiconductors

(i) Intrinsic Semiconductor A semiconductor in its pure state is called intrinsic


semiconductor.
(ii) Extrinsic Semiconductor A semiconductor doped with suitable impurity to
increase its impurity, is called extrinsic semiconductor.

On the basis of doped impurity extrinsic semiconductors are of two types


(i) n-type Semiconductor Extrinsic semiconductor doped with pentavalent impurity
like As, Sb, Bi, etc in which negatively charged electrons works as charge carrier, is
called n-type semiconductor. Every pentavalent impurity atom donates one electron
in the crystal; therefore, it is called a doner atom
(ii) p -type Semiconductor Extrinsic semiconductor doped with trivalent impurity
like Al, B, etc, in which positively charged holes works as charge carriers, is called
p-type semiconductor. Every trivalent impurity atom has a tendency to accept one
electron, therefore it is called an acceptor atom.

p-n Junction

An arrangement consisting a p -type semiconductor brought into a close contact


with n-type semiconductor, is called a p -n junction.
The current in a p-n junction is given by,
Terms Related to p-n Junction

(i) Depletion Layer At p-n. junction a region is created, where there are no charge
carriers. This region is called depletion layer. The width of this region is of the
order of 10-6 m.
(ii) Potential Barrier The potential difference across the depletion layer is called
potential barrier. Barrier potential for Ge is 0.3 V and for Si is 0.7 V.
(iii) Forward Biasing In this biasing, the p -side is connected to positive terminal
and n-side to negative terminal of a battery.
In this biasing, forward current flows due to majority charge carriers.
The width of depletion layer decreases.
(iv) Reverse Biasing In this biasing, the p-side is connected to negative terminal
and n-side to terminal of a battery.
In this biasing, reverse current flows due to minority charge carriers. The width of
depletion layer increases. A p-n junction diode can be utilized as a rectifier.

Zener diode, photo-diode, light-emitting diode, etc are specially designed p-n.
junction diodes.

p-n Junction Diode


The current through p-n junction flow only from p toward n and not from n toward
p.

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