Electronic Terms

p n Junction

When a p-type semiconductor is suitably joined to an n-type semiconductor, the contact surface so formed is called p-n Junction. All the semiconductor devices contain one or more p n junction. The p-n junction is in effect, the control element for semiconductor devices. Formation of p-n Junction In actual practice, the PN junction is not …

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Majority and Minority Carriers

In an n-type semiconductor, the electrons are the majority carriers whereas, the holes are the minority carriers. In the p-type semiconductor material, the holes are the majority carriers, whereas, the electrons are the minority carriers as shown in the figures below: When a small amount of Pentavalent impurity is added to a pure semiconductor, it …

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Properties of Semiconductors

The substances which have resistivity (102 to 0.5 ohm-m) in between conductors and insulators are known as Semiconductors. For example – Germanium, Selenium, Carbon, Sulphur, etc. The following properties which distinguish semiconductors from conductors and insulators are described below. Resistivity of a Semiconductor The resistivity of a semiconductor is less than an insulator but more …

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Semiconductors

The Semiconductors, such as Germanium, Silicon, Carbon, Selenium, etc. are the materials which are neither conductors nor insulators. The conductivity of these materials lies in between or middle of the conductivity of conductors and insulators. Semiconductors have some useful properties and are extensively used for the preparation of solid-state devices like the diode, transistor, etc. …

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p Type Semiconductor

The extrinsic p-Type Semiconductor is formed when a trivalent impurity is added to a pure semiconductor in a small amount, and as a result, a large number of holes are created in it. A large number of holes are provided in the semiconductor material by the addition of trivalent impurities like Gallium and Indium. Such …

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n Type Semiconductor

When a small amount of Pentavalent impurity is added to a pure semiconductor providing a large number of free electrons in it, the extrinsic semiconductor thus formed is known as n-Type Semiconductor. The conduction in the n-type semiconductor is because of the free electrons denoted by the pentavalent impurity atoms. These electrons are the excess free …

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Intrinsic Semiconductor and Extrinsic Semiconductor

The semiconductor is divided into two types. One is Intrinsic Semiconductor and other is an Extrinsic semiconductor. The pure form of the semiconductor is known as the intrinsic semiconductor and the semiconductor in which intentionally impurities is added for making it conductive is known as the extrinsic semiconductor. The conductivity of the intrinsic semiconductor becomes …

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Resistance of a Diode

In practice, no diode is an Ideal diode, this means neither it acts as a perfect conductor when forward biased nor it acts as an insulator when it is reverse biased. In other words, an actual diode offers a very small resistance (not zero) when forward biased and is called a forward resistance. Whereas, it …

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Ideal Diode and Real Diode

A diode is said to be an Ideal Diode when it is forward biased and acts as a perfect conductor, with zero voltage across it. Similarly, when the diode is reversed biased, it acts as a perfect insulator with zero current through it. The V-I characteristics of the Ideal diode are shown in the figure …

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