KEY CONCEPTS FOR SEMICONDUCTORS Y According to the classical Bohr model, the atom is viewed as having a planetary-type structure with electrons orbiting at various distances around the central nucleus. Y According to the quantum model, electrons do not exist in precise circular orbits as particles as in the Bohr model. The electrons can be waves or particles and precise location at.any time isuncertain. Y The nucleus of an atom consists of protons and neutrons. The protons have a positive charge and the neutrons are uncharged. The number of protons is the atomic numiber of the atom. Y Electrons have a negative charge and orbit: around the nucleus at distances that depend on their energy level. ¥ Anatom has discrete bands of energy called shells in which the electrons orbit. Y Atomic structure allows a certain maximum number of electrons in each shell. In their natural state, all atoms are neutral because they have an equal number of protons and electrons. ¥ The outarmast: shell orband of an atom jécalled the valence band, and electrons that orbit: in ‘this band are called valence electrons. These electrons have the highest energy of all those in the atom. Y Ifavalence electron acquirés enough energy from an outside source such as heat, it. can jump out of the valence band and break away fromits atom. Y Insulating materials have very few free electrons and do not conduct current at all under normal circumstances. Y Materials that are conductorshave alarge number of free electrons and conduct current very well. ¥ ‘Semiconductor materials fall in between conductors and insulators in their ability to conduct current. ¥ Semiconductor atoms have four valence electrons. His the most widely used semiconductor material. Page 1 of 5 For more notes, practice questions with solutions, and video discussions, please visit/contact: (@ worm percdclearnhub.org [FJ PERCOCLEARNHUB Manila (@ Peredclearnhub J 0949 669.9588 (@ (02) 781 1005 (Bf 3F RIV.2008 Den Lorenzo Bldg,, P. Paredes St, Sampaloc, Manila (front of PRC)@ KR are Y Semiconductor materials have a negative temperature coefficient. Visit our Youg{it) Channel Y The farther an electron is from the ucleus, the higher is the eneray state. oe Y Any electron that has left its parent [VUR RAs atom has a higher eneray state than any (Aete Reno electron in the atomic structure. Y¥ Semiconductor atoms bond together in a symmetrical pattern to form a solid material called a crystal. Y Anelectron in the valence band of silicon must absorb more energy than one in the valence band of germanium to become a free carrier. Similarly, ari'electron in the valence band of gallium arsenide must gain more energy than one insilicon or germanium to enter the conduction band. The bonds that hold a crystal together are called covalent bonds. Y The valence electrons that manage to escape from their parent atom are called conduction electrons or free electrons. They have more energy than the electrons in the valence band and are free to drift throughout the material. Y When an electron breaks away to become free, it leaves a hole in the valence band creating what is called an electron-hole pair. Y Electron-hole pairs are thermally produced because the electron has acquired enough energy from external heat to break away from its atom. Y Afreeelectron will eventually lose energy and fall back intoa hole. Thisis called recombination. Y ‘Electron-hole pairs are continuously being thermally generated so there are always free electrons in the material, Y When a voltage is applied across the semiconductor, the thermally produced free electrons move toward the positive end and form the current. This is one type of current and is called electron current. Page 2 of 5 For more notes, practice questions with solutions, and video discussions, please visit/contact: (@ worw:peredclearfub.org Fj PERCDCLEARNHUS—Manila EQ PeredcLeanhub Q 0949.668588 @ (02) 781 1005, {ef ar n0.3008 Don Lorenzo Big, . Paredes St, Sampaloe, Mani front of PRE)p KD coe Y Another type of current is the hole current. This occurs as valence electrons move from hole tohole creating, in effect, a movement of holes in the opposite direction. Y Annetype semiconductor material is created by adding impurity atoms that have five valence electrons. These impurities are pentavalent atoms. ¥ A p-type semiconductor is created by adding impurity atoms with only three valence electrons. These impurities are trivalent atoms. Y’ The process of adding pentavalent or trivalent impurities to a semiconductor is called doping, Y A semiconductor material that has been subjected to the doping process is called an extrinsic material. Y. Diffused impurities with five valence electrons are called donor atoms. The diffused impurities with three valence electrons are called acceptor atoms. The majority carriers in an n-type semiconductor are free electrons acquired by the doping process, and the minority carriers are Holes produced by thermally generated electron-hole pairs. Y Inan n-type the electron is called the majority carrier and the hole is the minority carrier. Y The majority carriers ina p-type semiconductor are holes acquired by the doping process, and the minority carriers are free electrons produced by thermally generated electron-hole pairs. ¥ Ina p-type material the hole is the majority carrier and the electronis the minority carrier. [i PEER Tee tC ERaTy s} yi e Y Apnjunctionis formed when part of amaterialis [iibannbdaled Clas me doped n-type and part of it is doped p-type. eee ™ ¥~Adepletion region forms starting at the junction that is devoid of any majority carriers. The depletion region is formed by ionization, Page 3 of 5 For more notes, practice questions with solutions, and video discussions, please visit/contact: (@ worw:peredclearfub.org Fj PERCDCLEARNHUS—Manila EQ PeredcLeanhub Q 0949.668588 @ (02) 781 1005, {ef ar n0.3008 Don Lorenzo Big, . Paredes St, Sampaloe, Mani front of PRE)@ ee The barrier potential is typically 0.7 V for a silicon diode and 0.3 V for germanium. Y Semiconductor atoms have four valence electrons. Both germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) are examples of semiconductor materials. YA pure semiconductor material with only one type of atom is called an inttinsic semiconductor. Y Anintrinsic semiconductor is neither a good conductor nor a good insulator. Y An extrinsic semiconductor is a semiconductor with impurity atoms added to it through a process known as doping, Y Doping increases the conductivity of a semiconductor material. Y’ i-type semiconductors have many free electrons as a result of adding pentavalent impurity atoms during the doping process. ¥ Ap ~type semiconductor has many holes or vacancies in its covalent bond structure as a result of adding trivalent impurity atoms during the doping process. Y Ahole exhibits a positive charge. Cee as ra (ole eel oie) Crore aac Master ECE Laws by using our PercBook App in ECE Laws! We eee Page 4 of 5 For more notes, practice questions with solutions, and video discussions, please visit/contact: (@ worw:peredclearfub.org Fj PERCDCLEARNHUS—Manila EQ PeredcLeanhub Q 0949.668588 @ (02) 781 1005, JEP 3¢ 501.3008 Don Loren Bl, Paredes St, Sampalg, Mana (ont of PRC)