Extrinsic Semiconductors

ECE 2204
Definitions
• Intrinsic
▫ Pure
▫ There are an equal number of electrons and holes
• Extrinsic
▫ Contains impurities (donors, acceptors, and traps)
▫ The material properties are dominated by the
concentration of the impurities and their effect on
the crystal
 Usually, n ≠ p
Back to the Periodic Table
Column V Atoms
Have 5 outer shell electrons
The extra electron on the phosphorous atom is easily removed and becomes a
free electron without generating a hole.
The phosphorous atom becomes positively charged (ionized).
Back to the Periodic Table (again)
Column III Atoms
Have 3 outer shell electrons

Missing outer shell electron

when compared to Si
The gallium atom ‘steals’ an electron from a neighboring Si atom to complete
the four bonds with the surrounding Si atoms, generating a hole at the
neighboring Si atom.

The boron atom becomes negatively charged (ionized).

n-type Semiconductors
• Are doped with donor atoms, which have an
extra electron that they donate to the crystal
▫ When the concentration of donor atoms is much
greater than the intrinsic carrier concentration, the
electron concentration is composed of these donated
electrons.

n  ND
p-type Semiconductors
• Are doped with acceptor atoms, which generate
holes in the crystal
▫ When the concentration of acceptor atoms is much
greater than the intrinsic carrier concentration, the
hole concentration is composed of the holes generated
by the acceptors.

p  NA
Minority Carrier Concentrations
n-type semiconductor p-type semiconductor

ni  n  p
2
ni  n  p
2

n  ND p  NA
2 2
ni ni
p n
ND NA
Energy Diagrams

EF

EF
Resistivity
n-type semiconductor p-type semiconductor
1
 1
q  n n   p p  
q  n n   p p 
1
 
1
 ni 
2
 ni 2 
q  n N D   p 
 q  n   p N A 
 N D   NA 
1 1
 
q n N D q p N A
Temperature Effects
• Unfortunately, the simplification of the equation
for resistivity gets rid of its temperature
dependence of the resistivity. Why?
▫ (Always blame the intrinsic carrier concentration
for temperature effects – it is usually the cause.)