Practice Questions w5

IS09 MATERIALS THAT MAKE OUR WORLD
Practice questions – Week 5 – Electricity & conductivity fundamentals, silicon and semiconductors
electronic: charge carriers are electrons different band gap length between valence bond and
conduction bond --> the gap has to be short enough for
From textbook: ion: charge carriers are ions (positive - cations
electron to travel freely
negative - anions)
12.6 What is the distinction between electronic and ionic conduction?
12.8 In terms of electron energy band structure, discuss reasons for the difference in electrical
conductivity among metals, semiconductors, and insulators.
12.11 At room temperature the electrical conductivity and the electron mobility for aluminum are 3.8 ×
107 (Ω∙m)–1 and 0.0012 m 2/V∙s, respectively.
(a) Compute the number of free electrons per cubic meter for aluminum at room temperature.
(b) What is the number of free electrons per aluminum atom? Assume a density of 2.7 g/cm3. (hint: for
this you’ll need to calculate the atomic density of Al, i.e., how many Al atoms per cm3).
12.18 (a) Using the data presented in Figure 12.16, determine the number of free electrons per atom
for intrinsic germanium and silicon at room temperature (298 K). The densities for Ge and Si are 5.32
and 2.33 g/cm3, respectively. dùng 1 công thức = n | e | Me
(b) Now, explain the difference in these free electron- per-atom values (hint: this is something we
discussed in class, it’s not new).
how tf can ik
12.23 For each of the following pairs of substances, decide which has the smaller band gap energy, Eg,
and then cite the reason for your choice (the reason part is much more important).
(a) C (diamond) and Ge intrinsic: electrical behavior is based on the electronic structure inherent in a
(b) AlP and InAs pure material (pure substances having narrow band gap) which electrons can
overcome during excitation (elementals - Si, Ge; compounds)
(c) GaAs and ZnSe
(d) ZnSe and CdTe extrinsic:
(e) CdS and NaCl
12.24 Define the following terms as they pertain to semiconducting materials: intrinsic, extrinsic,
compound, elemental. Provide an example of each.
12.26 (a) In your own words, explain how donor impurities in semiconductors give rise to free
electrons in numbers in excess of those generated by valence band–conduction band excitations in
intrinsic semiconductors.
(b) Also, explain how acceptor impurities give rise to holes in numbers in excess of those generated by
valence band–conduction band excitations in intrinsic semiconductors.
12.27 (a) Explain why no hole is generated by the electron excitation involving a donor impurity atom
(i.e., why n increases but not p)
(b) Explain why no free electron is generated by the electron excitation involving an acceptor impurity
atom ((i.e., why p increases but not n)
12.28 Predict whether each of the following elements will act as a donor or an acceptor when added to
the indicated semiconducting material. Assume that the impurity elements are substitutional.
12.36 Compare the temperature dependence of the conductivity for metals and intrinsic
semiconductors. Briefly explain the difference in behavior (note: for this one you just need to provide a
qualitative explanation).
12.43 Briefly describe electron and hole motions in a p–n junction for forward and reverse biases; then
explain how these lead to rectification.
the band gap must be small enough for electrons to travel from
Other questions: the valence band to the conduction band
1. According to band theory, what decides the conductivity of a substance?
free movement of electron,
2. How are the “bands” (in band theory) formed? higher conductivity
3. Metallic bonds and covalent bonds are both “sharing of electrons”, why are metals conductors
lower conductivity, strong covalent bonds are difficult
while most covalent substances are insulators?
to break; no freedom of electron movement
4. What are the relationships between conductivity, resistivity, number of free electrons, and
electron mobility? higher number of free electrons --> high electron mobility
5. What decides the number of free (conducting) electrons in a substance?
6. What is the key difference between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors? (i.e., why are they
called intrinsic vs extrinsic) the eletrical behavior is based on the electric structure of the pure material having
narrow band gap / extrinsic electric structure is dictated by the impurity atoms
7. What is the purpose of doping? Is there a limit to doping or can the impurities be added in any
amount?
8. What are the 2 elemental intrinsic semiconductors? What do they have in common?
9. To the intrinsic semiconductors above, choose some donor and acceptor impurities. Why are
they called “donor” or “acceptor”?
10. Compare the number and types of charge carriers in intrinsic, n-type and p-type
semiconductors.
11. Practice drawing band diagrams showing the donor state and acceptor state in extrinsic
semiconductor, pay attention to their position (i.e. energy levels).
Band structure - whether it is insulator (large band gap - difficult atom movement),
conductor (no band gap - easy) or semiconductor
Chemical bonding - covalent (sharing of 2 electrons), ionic, or metallic (free movement
of electron)

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IS09 MATERIALS THAT MAKE OUR WORLD

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