DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL DUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : A.Veerabhadra Reddy
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Electronics & Commn. Engg.
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic, Anantapur
Year/Semester : I Year
Subject : Electronic Components & Devices
Subject Code : EC-105
Topic : Semiconductor Diode (12/20)
Duration : 50 Mts
Sub Topic : Majority and Minority Carriers,
Drift and Diffusion Currents
Teaching aids : Diagrams.
EC105.121 to 122 1
OBJECTIVES

On completion of this topic you would be able to

Know :

• Majority and Minority carriers in P- type Semiconductor.

• Majority and Minority carriers in N- type Semiconductor.
• Drift Process.
• Diffusion Process.

EC105.121 to 122 2
Types of Semiconductors

Semiconductors can be classified as:

1. Intrinsic Semiconductor.
2. Extrinsic Semiconductor.

Extrinsic Semiconductors are further classified

as:

a. n-type Semiconductors.
b. p-type Semiconductors.

EC105.121 to 122 3
Extrinsic Semiconductor

• When we add an impurity to pure semiconductor to

increase the charge carriers then it becomes an Extrinsic
Semiconductor.

• In extrinsic semiconductor without breaking the covalent

bonds we can increase the charge carriers.

EC105.121 to 122 4
N-type Semiconductor

• When we add a pentavalent impurity to pure

semiconductor we get n-type semiconductor.

Pure
N-type
As si
Si
Fig 1.

EC105.121 to 122 5
N-type Semiconductor

• Arsenic atom has 5 valence electrons.

• Fifth electron is superfluous, becomes free electron and

enters into conduction band.

• Therefore pentavalent impurity donates one electron

and becomes positive donor ion. Pentavalent impurity
known as donor.

EC105.121 to 122 6
P-type Semiconductor

• When we add a Trivalent impurity to pure semiconductor

we get p-type semiconductor.

Pure
P-type
Ga si
Si
Fig 2.
EC105.121 to 122 7
P-type Semiconductor

• Gallium atom has 3 valence electrons.

• It makes covalent bonds with adjacent three electrons of

silicon atom.

• There is a deficiency of one covalent bond and creates a

hole.

• Therefore trivalent impurity accepts one electron and

becomes negative acceptor ion. Trivalent impurity known
as acceptor.

EC105.121 to 122 8
Carriers in P-type Semiconductor

• In addition to this, some of the covalent bonds break due

temperature and electron hole pairs generates.

• Holes are majority carriers and electrons are minority

carriers.

EC105.121 to 122 9
 P and N type Semiconductors

Acceptor ion Donor ion

P N

- - - + + + +
-
- + + + +
- - -
- + + +
- -

Minority electron Majority holes Majority electrons Minority hole

Fig 3.
EC105.121 to 122 10
Comparison of semiconductors

Intrinsic Extrinsic Semiconductor

Semiconductor 2. It formed by adding trivalent
2. It is in pure form. or pentavalent impurity to a
pure semiconductor.

4. No. of holes are more in p-

type and no. of electrons are
6. Holes and electrons more in n-type.
are equal.
6. Fermi level lies near valence
band in p-type and near
9. Fermi level lies in conduction band in n-type.
between valence and
conduction Bands. EC105.121 to 122 11
Conduction in Semiconductors

Conduction is carried out by means of

1. Drift Process.

2. Diffusion Process.

EC105.121 to 122 12
Drift process

A B
CB
VB

Fig 4. V

• Electrons move from external circuit and in

conduction band of a semiconductor.

• Holes move in valence band of a semiconductor.

EC105.121 to 122 13
Diffusion process

• Moving of electrons from

higher concentration
gradient to lower
concentration gradient is
known as diffusion
process.

X=a

Fig 5.
EC105.121 to 122 14
Summary
We have discussed about
• Intrinsic and Extrinsic semiconductors.

• Majority and Minority carriers in N- type material.

• Majority and Minority carriers in P- type material.

• Diffusion Process.

• Drift Process.
EC105.121 to 122 15
Quiz

1.Majority carriers in p-type material are

a) Electronics.

b) Holes.

c) Both.

EC105.121 to 122 16
QUIZ

2. Diffusion process takes place due to

a) due external electric field.

b) due concentration gradient.

c) both.

EC105.121 to 122 17
QUIZ

3. Acceptor accepts

a) electrons.

b) holes.

c) both.

EC105.121 to 122 18
Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain briefly about majority and minority carriers in

Extrinsic semiconductors.

2. Define drift and diffusion Process.

3. Distinguish between drift and diffusion current.

EC105.121 to 122 19