Semiconductors Question and Answers

Describe the formation of energy bands in solids.
 In solids 1023 stacked up lines in a confined space would look like a band.
Thereby forming energy continuum called energy bands
Define bands in solids and explain the valence band, the conduction
band and the forbidden energy gap.
 Quantum state that an electron takes inside a metal solid.
 Valence band is the last filled energy level with T=0K
 Conduction band is the first unfilled energy level with T=0K
 Forbidden gap is the difference in energy level between conduction and

valence band
Differentiate solids according to energy band structure.

 Metals are conductors so they have overlapping conduction and valence band
with no forbidden gap
 The valence band is completely filled with electron but the conduction band is
empty. The forbidden gap is small and so electron can jump when provided
with energy
 Insulators have a large forbidden gap so electron can’t jump from valence to
conduction band with feasible amount of energy
Define semiconductors. What are their characteristics properties?

 Semiconductors are material with intermediate conductivity
 It has a forbidden gap less than 2.3ev and negative temperature coefficient
If you are going to design high speed electronic device, which type of
semiconductor (i.e. n- type or p-type) you would prefer and why?
 N-type semiconductor would be preferred
 Conduction in semiconductors is dependent on holes and electrons, the

effective mass of electrons is less than of holes.
 Therefore the mobility of electrons are more than holes and therefore n-type
semiconductor are preferred
Can an intrinsic semiconductor behave as an insulator at some

temperature?
 At T = 0K
 As semiconductor have negative temperature gradient means the conductivity

increases with temperature
 Therefore at absolute temperature there is no conductivity
State the law of mass action for a semiconductor

 The product of number of electrons and holes are constant at given
temperature and is equal to square of intrinsic carrier concentration
What do you mean by semiconductors? Explain the term intrinsic and

extrinsic semiconductors.
 Semiconductors are material with intermediate conductivity and negative
temperature gradient
 Intrinsic semiconductors are pure semiconductors which have equal number of

holes and electron
 Extrinsic semiconductors are impure semiconductors which different number

of holes and electrons. n-type have more electrons while the p-type have
more holes
Show that for an intrinsic semiconductor, at low temperature, Fermi
level lies at the half of the energy band gap.
Why does the electrical conductivity of a pure semiconductor increase

with a rise of temperature? Mention a device where this property is
used.
 As the temperature increases in semiconductor, more electrons get the energy
to jump from Conduction band to valence band, and thereby increases the
conductivity of the semiconductor
 Diode, Light-emitting diode

Explain clearly the meaning of hole as referred to in a semiconductor.
What is meant by an intrinsic and an extrinsic semiconductor? Is an n-
type semiconductor negatively charged?
 A hole is the absence of an electron in a particular place in an atom.
 Intrinsic semiconductors are pure and have equal number of electrons and
holes while Extrinsic semiconductors are impure with different number of
holes and electrons
 N-type semiconductor are neutral in charge as they have equal amount of

positive and negative charge
Discuss the properties of n-type and p-type semiconductors.

How does the free electron concentration increase over the intrinsic
value in an n-type semiconductor? Will the hole concentration remain
constant at the intrinsic value? If not, why?
 The electron concentration increases as a result of pentavalent doping.
 Some of the extra electrons combine with holes and thereby decreasing the
hole concentration
 The system reaches a thermally equilibrium state where rate of intrinsic hole
production equal to hole-electron combination
How does the hole concentration increase over the intrinsic value in a p-
type semiconductor? Will the electron concentration remain constant at
its intrinsic value? If not, why?
 The hole concentration increases as a result of trivalent doping.
 Some of the extra holes combine with electrons and thereby decreasing the
electron concentration
 The system reaches a thermally equilibrium state where rate of intrinsic

electron production equal to electron-hole combination
At a high temperature an extrinsic semiconductor behaves like an

intrinsic one. Why?
 In n-type semiconductor according to formula ( 𝐸 = 𝐸 − 𝑘𝑇 𝑙𝑛 ) as the
temperature increases then the value of Ef decreases and so the fermi level
moves down and material it behaves like an intrinsic semiconductor
 In p-type semiconductor according to formula ( 𝐸 = 𝐸 + 𝑘𝑇 ln ) as the
temperature increases then the value of Ef increases and so fermi level moves
up and material behaves like an intrinsic semiconductor.
Prove that for a given material consisting of different regions with
different carrier concentration, Fermi level will remain invariant at
equilibrium.
What is Hall effect? Find the expression for Hall coefficient for a
current carrying extrinsic semiconductor bar.
 the production of a potential difference across an electrical conductor when a
magnetic field is applied in a direction perpendicular to that of the flow of
current
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 → 𝐹 = 𝑞(𝐸 + (𝑣 × 𝐵)

𝑉 = 𝐸 𝑤 𝐽 = 𝑞𝑝 𝑣
𝐽
𝐸 = 𝐵 =𝑅 𝐽 𝐵
𝑞𝑝
𝐽 𝐵
𝑅 =
𝐸
Discuss two applications of Hall effect.
 To measure carrier concentration
For a known amount of hall voltage, current and magnetic field we

can find the hole concentration p0
𝐼
1 𝐽 𝐵 𝐵 𝐼 𝐵
𝑝 = = = 𝑤𝑡 =
𝑞𝑅 𝑞𝐸 𝑉 𝑞𝑡𝑉
𝑞
𝑤
 To measure mobility
𝜎 1/𝜌 𝑅
𝜇 = = =
𝑞𝑝 1/𝑅 𝜌

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Describe the formation of energy bands in solids.

 Valence band is the last filled energy level with T=0K

 Conduction band is the first unfilled energy level with T=0K

 Forbidden gap is the difference in energy level between conduction and

Differentiate solids according to energy band structure.

Define semiconductors. What are their characteristics properties?

 Conduction in semiconductors is dependent on holes and electrons, the

Can an intrinsic semiconductor behave as an insulator at some

 As semiconductor have negative temperature gradient means the conductivity

 Therefore at absolute temperature there is no conductivity

State the law of mass action for a semiconductor

What do you mean by semiconductors? Explain the term intrinsic and

 Intrinsic semiconductors are pure semiconductors which have equal number of

 Extrinsic semiconductors are impure semiconductors which different number

Why does the electrical conductivity of a pure semiconductor increase

 Diode, Light-emitting diode

 N-type semiconductor are neutral in charge as they have equal amount of

Discuss the properties of n-type and p-type semiconductors.

 The system reaches a thermally equilibrium state where rate of intrinsic

At a high temperature an extrinsic semiconductor behaves like an

 In n-type semiconductor according to formula ( 𝐸 = 𝐸 − 𝑘𝑇 𝑙𝑛 ) as the

 In p-type semiconductor according to formula ( 𝐸 = 𝐸 + 𝑘𝑇 ln ) as the

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 → 𝐹 = 𝑞(𝐸 + (𝑣 × 𝐵)

For a known amount of hall voltage, current and magnetic field we

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