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Chapter 18: Problem 24

Define the following terms as they pertain to semiconducting materials: intrinsic, extrinsic, compound, elemental. Provide an example of each.

Short Answer

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Question: Provide a brief definition and example for each of the following terms related to semiconducting materials: intrinsic, extrinsic, compound, and elemental semiconductors. Answer: An intrinsic semiconductor is a pure material with semiconducting properties without any impurities or doping, such as pure silicon. An extrinsic semiconductor is a material intentionally doped with impurities to modify its electrical properties, like silicon doped with phosphorus or boron. A compound semiconductor consists of two or more different elements combined to form a semiconductor material with unique properties, such as gallium arsenide. An elemental semiconductor is composed of a single element with semiconductor properties, like germanium.

Step by step solution

01

Definition: Intrinsic Semiconductor

Intrinsic semiconductors are pure materials that exhibit semiconducting properties without any impurities or doping. In these materials, electron-hole pairs are created due to the thermal energy, and their electrical properties are determined by their crystal structure and constituent atoms.
02

Example: Intrinsic Silicon

Silicon (Si) is an elemental semiconductor, and when found in its pure form without any doping or impurities, it is considered an intrinsic semiconductor.
03

Definition: Extrinsic Semiconductor

Extrinsic semiconductors are materials that have been intentionally doped or altered with impurities to modify their electrical properties. These impurities can either introduce additional free electrons (n-type doping) or create additional electron holes (p-type doping), resulting in an increased charge carrier concentration and improved electrical conductivity.
04

Example: Doped Silicon

When silicon is doped with impurities such as phosphorus (n-type doping) or boron (p-type doping), it becomes an extrinsic semiconductor with improved electrical properties.
05

Definition: Compound Semiconductor

Compound semiconductors are materials made up of two or more different elements that form a compound with semiconductor properties. These materials often have unique electronic and optical characteristics compared to elemental semiconductors and can be used in various applications ranging from optoelectronics to high-speed electronics.
06

Example: Gallium Arsenide

Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) is an example of a compound semiconductor, which is made up of gallium (Ga) and arsenic (As) elements. GaAs is often used in high-speed electronic devices, LEDs, and solar cells.
07

Definition: Elemental Semiconductor

Elemental semiconductors are materials composed of a single element that has semiconductor properties. These materials have band structures arising from the periodic arrangement of atoms belonging to the same element, and their properties are determined by that element's unique atomic structure.
08

Example: Germanium

Germanium (Ge) is an example of an elemental semiconductor, made up of only germanium atoms. It was one of the first semiconductor materials to be used in electronic devices and still finds use in specialized applications today.

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