CBSE Class 12 · 2006 · SemiconductorsShort Answer

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What is an intrinsic semiconductor? How can this material be converted into
(i) n-type and
(ii) p-type extrinsic semiconductor? Explain with the help of energy band diagrams.

Solution

An intrinsic semiconductor is a pure crystal (e.g. Si or Ge) in which conduction is only by thermally generated electron-hole pairs, so .
(i) Doping with a pentavalent impurity (As, Sb, P) adds donor atoms whose extra electron occupies a donor level just below the conduction band; these electrons are easily excited to the conduction band, giving an n-type semiconductor with electrons as majority carriers.
(ii) Doping with a trivalent impurity (B, Al, In) adds acceptor atoms creating an acceptor level just above the valence band; valence electrons move into it leaving holes, giving a p-type semiconductor with holes as majority carriers.

CBSE Class 12 Board · 2006 · Subjective

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