Introduction to

Semiconductors
Semiconductor Physics
Matter

Liquid Solid Gas

Crystalline Non Crystalline

Conductor

Semiconductor

Insulator
The Bohr Model of an Atom
• The Bohr model shows that the
electrons in atoms are in orbits
of differing energy around the
nucleus (think of planets orbiting
around the sun).
• Uses the term energy levels (or
shells) to describe these orbits of
differing energy.
Valence
• Ability of an atom to combine
with other atoms
• The valence of an atom is
determined by the number of
electrons in the atom’s
outermost shell
• The electron on the outermost
shell of an atom is called
valence electron
Covalent Bonding
• The sharing of valence electrons between two or more atoms.
• Covalent bonding holds the atoms together in an orderly structure
called a crystal
Valence Electron
• The electrons in the outermost
shell of an atom
• They dictate the nature of the
chemical reaction of the atom
and largely determine the
electrical nature of solid matter
Ionization
• Process by which an atom loses
or gains an electron
• Positive ion – atom that loses
some of its electrons and
becomes positively charged
• Negative ion – atom that has an
excess number of electrons and is
negatively charged
Three Broad Categories of
Materials
•Conductor
•Insulator
•Semiconductor
Conductor
• Elements which conduct electricity very readily
• Have three or less valence electrons
• Silver, Copper, Gold
Insulator
• Materials that have extremely high resistance to the flow of electricity
• Five or more valence electrons
• Negative temperature coefficient
• Plastics, paper
Semiconductor
• In between conductor or insulator in terms of the ability to conduct
current
• Four valence electrons
• Silicon, Germanium, Carbon
Band Theory of Solids
Band Theory of Solids
• Band theory helps us understand what makes a conductor, insulator,
or semiconductor
• The highest occupied band is called the VALENCE band. This is full
• For conduction of electrical energy there must be electrons in the
CONDUCTION band. Electrons are free to move in this band
Semiconductor Fundamentals
• Intrinsic Semiconductor
• Semiconductors that have been carefully refined to reduce the impurities to a
very low level
• Extrinsic Semiconductor
• Semiconductor material that has been subjected to the doping process
Intrinsic Semiconductor
• Semiconductor in pure
form
• At room temperature,
the number of electrons
are equal to the number
of holes
• Ex: Pure Germanium,
Pure Silicon
Silicon and Germanium Crystals
Extrinsic Semiconductor
• Semiconductor material that has been subjected to the doping
process

• Hole – the absence of an electron in the valence band of an atom

• Free electron – an electron that has acquired enough energy to break
away from the valence band of the parent atom
• Two types: P-Type and N-Type
Doping
• The process of adding
impurities to intrinsic
semiconductors to alter
their properties
• To increase electron or
hole concentration
Semiconductor Doping
• Addition of a small percentage of foreign atoms (impurities) in the
regular crystal lattice of silicon or germanium
• Pentavalent
• Trivalent
Doping
Donors Acceptors
(column V elements) (column III elements)
(add more electrons) (add more holes)

P Phosphorous B Boron
(most common) (most common)
As Arsenic Ga Gallium
Sb Antimony In Indium
Al Aluminum
Pentavalent Impurities
• Impurity atoms with 5 valence
electrons
• Produces N-Type semiconductors
by contributing excess electrons
• Donor atoms
• Phosphorous
• Arsenic
• Antimony
Trivalent Impurities
• Impurity atoms with 3 valence
electrons
• Produces P-Type semiconductors
by producing a “hole” or electron
deficiency
• Acceptor atoms
• Boron
• Aluminum
• Gallium
• Indium
Two General Type of
Semiconductors
• N-type
• P-type
N-type Semiconductor
• Produced by adding impuriy
elements that have FIVE valence
electrons (pentavalent) to
produce excess electrons, greatly
increasing the conductivity of the
intrinsic semiconductor
• Diffused impurities with five
valence electrons are called
donor atoms
• Majority Carriers: Electrons
• Minority Carriers: Holes
P-type Semiconductor
• Formed by doping a pure
Germanium or Silicon crystal
with impurity atoms having
THREE valence electrons
(trivalent).
• Diffused impurities with three
valence electrons are called
acceptor atoms
• Majority carriers: Holes
• Minority carriers: Electrons
P-type vs N-type
Electron and Hole Current
• Electron Current – movement of free electrons in a semiconductor
material
• Hole Current –
Electron and Hole Current
PN Junction
• A p–n junction is a boundary or interface between two types of
semiconductor materials, p-type and n-type, inside a single crystal of
semiconductor.
• The boundary between two different types of semiconductive
materials.
• A PN-junction is formed when an N-type material is fused together
with a P-type material creating a semiconductor diode
Depletion Region
• A region around the PN junction where no current carriers exist
• Also called the insulation region
Bias
• Current or voltage applied to a semiconductor component to turn it
on or off

• Forward Bias – connection wherein the P-region is connected to

positive terminal of the source
• Reverse Bias – connection wherein the N-region is connected to
positive terminal of the source
No Applied Bias
• When there is no voltage
applied across the PN junction,
the potential developed across
the junction is 0.3 volts at 25
degrees C for germanium PN
junction and 0.7 volts at 25
degrees C for silicon PN junction
Forward Biased PN Junction
Reverse Biased PN Junction
The PN Junction Diode
• made from a small piece of
semiconductor material, usually
silicon, in which half is doped as
a p region and half is doped as an
n region with a pn junction and
depletion region in between.
• The P-region is called anode
• The N-region is called cathode
Assignment
• Look for special types of diodes (6-7)
• Symbol
• Characteristic Curve
• Uses
• Construction
Quiz number 1
• What are the difference between conductors and insulators? (20pts)
• Describe the difference between n-type and p-type semiconductor
materials (20pts)
• Describe the process called semiconductor doping (10pts)
• What is the difference between a pentavalent and trivalent atom?
(20pts)
• Describe the forward bias condition of a PN junction (10pts)
• Describe the reverse bias condition of a PN junction (10pts)
• Describe the depletion region (20pts)