N Type Semiconductors
A semiconductor is a material which has an electrical conductivity between conductors such as general metals and nonconductors such as ceramics. It is a pure crystalline material that has an electrical conductivity between a conductor and an insulator. Semiconductors are electronic parts that are used in every form of today's electronic devices, and they are one of the most fundamental elements of modern electronics. Semiconductor materials such as silicon have four electrons in their valence, or outer shell, all of which are utilized by that semiconductor's atom to form bonds with nearby atoms, leaving few electrons available then for conduction. Two of the most widely types of semiconductors are negative type, or 'n-type,' and positive type, or 'p-type.' Here is some information on n-type semiconductors.
N-type semiconductors have free electrons that are negatively charged. N-type semiconductors are extrinsic semiconductors, meaning they have been 'doped.' The process of doping in the world of electronics and semiconductors is when impurities are intentionally introduced into an intrinsic, or pure, semiconductor in order to temper its electric properties. Moderately and lightly doped semiconductors are considered 'extrinsic.' These extrinsic semiconductors have dopant atoms, otherwise known as doping agents, added to them. These dopant atoms are trace impurities that are added in low concentrations resulting in an alteration of electrical properties in order to change their electrical behaviors. These impurities, or dopant atoms (sometimes even called 'donor atoms') provide extra electrons into the structure.
N-type semiconductors have a larger electron concentration than they have hole (absence of electrons) concentration, and they are called n-type because of their negatively charged electrons. In n-type semiconductors, electrons are the majority carriers while holes are the minority carriers. (The term 'carrier' refers to charge carrier, which is a particle free to move and carry an electrical charge. These include ions, electrons, and holes.) N-type semiconductors are created by adding dopants to intrinsic semiconductors with impurities, and a common doping agent for n-type silicon is phosphorous.
N-type semiconductors partially conduct and partially insulate materials that donate electrons into electronic gadgets. They are typically made from materials such as silicon and germanium (a material with a crystal structure similar to a diamond and effective in the use of creation of music in electronics). N-type and p-type semiconductors are often paired together as electronic components or integrated electronic circuits, as p-type semiconductors are acceptors of electrons. Negative-type semiconductor materials have had dopant atoms added, and these dopants have spare electrons in their valence, or outer shell. This is what gives n-type silicon free electrons (which are negatively charged particles). These can move about freely at will, and they have the potential to create current. The difference between n-type and p-type semiconductors is that p-type semiconductor materials have been doped in the opposite manner. They have had elements added that have too few electrons in their outer shells. Thus, the opposite of electrons, or 'holes,' move freely within the material, with the potential to generate current. It's like the negative and positive of a magnet.
When an n-type silicon is placed nearby to a p-type silicon, these two pieces will form what is known as a diode, which is a two-terminal (often crystalline) electronic component that has asymmetric conductance, low resistance to electrical current in one direction and high resistance in the other. The extra electrons in the n-type semiconductor are attracted to the extra holes in the p-type. This forms the 'pn-junction.' If you then put a potential difference (voltage) across the junction such that the p-type is sufficiently higher potential than the n-type, electrons will be able to jump across the boarder from the n-type to the p-type, creating current in the opposite direction. If you apply the potential difference in the opposite direction, such that the n-type is at a higher potential than the p-type, there is no flow of electrons from the p-type to the n-type because the n-type already has too many. There is no current flow (unless a large voltage is applied to cause the barrier to break down).
N-type and p-type semiconductors are the foundational elements of electronic circuits. Without them, electronic devices would not work as they do, and modern society would not exist and move as it does.
N-type semiconductors have free electrons that are negatively charged. N-type semiconductors are extrinsic semiconductors, meaning they have been 'doped.' The process of doping in the world of electronics and semiconductors is when impurities are intentionally introduced into an intrinsic, or pure, semiconductor in order to temper its electric properties. Moderately and lightly doped semiconductors are considered 'extrinsic.' These extrinsic semiconductors have dopant atoms, otherwise known as doping agents, added to them. These dopant atoms are trace impurities that are added in low concentrations resulting in an alteration of electrical properties in order to change their electrical behaviors. These impurities, or dopant atoms (sometimes even called 'donor atoms') provide extra electrons into the structure.
N-type semiconductors have a larger electron concentration than they have hole (absence of electrons) concentration, and they are called n-type because of their negatively charged electrons. In n-type semiconductors, electrons are the majority carriers while holes are the minority carriers. (The term 'carrier' refers to charge carrier, which is a particle free to move and carry an electrical charge. These include ions, electrons, and holes.) N-type semiconductors are created by adding dopants to intrinsic semiconductors with impurities, and a common doping agent for n-type silicon is phosphorous.
N-type semiconductors partially conduct and partially insulate materials that donate electrons into electronic gadgets. They are typically made from materials such as silicon and germanium (a material with a crystal structure similar to a diamond and effective in the use of creation of music in electronics). N-type and p-type semiconductors are often paired together as electronic components or integrated electronic circuits, as p-type semiconductors are acceptors of electrons. Negative-type semiconductor materials have had dopant atoms added, and these dopants have spare electrons in their valence, or outer shell. This is what gives n-type silicon free electrons (which are negatively charged particles). These can move about freely at will, and they have the potential to create current. The difference between n-type and p-type semiconductors is that p-type semiconductor materials have been doped in the opposite manner. They have had elements added that have too few electrons in their outer shells. Thus, the opposite of electrons, or 'holes,' move freely within the material, with the potential to generate current. It's like the negative and positive of a magnet.
When an n-type silicon is placed nearby to a p-type silicon, these two pieces will form what is known as a diode, which is a two-terminal (often crystalline) electronic component that has asymmetric conductance, low resistance to electrical current in one direction and high resistance in the other. The extra electrons in the n-type semiconductor are attracted to the extra holes in the p-type. This forms the 'pn-junction.' If you then put a potential difference (voltage) across the junction such that the p-type is sufficiently higher potential than the n-type, electrons will be able to jump across the boarder from the n-type to the p-type, creating current in the opposite direction. If you apply the potential difference in the opposite direction, such that the n-type is at a higher potential than the p-type, there is no flow of electrons from the p-type to the n-type because the n-type already has too many. There is no current flow (unless a large voltage is applied to cause the barrier to break down).
N-type and p-type semiconductors are the foundational elements of electronic circuits. Without them, electronic devices would not work as they do, and modern society would not exist and move as it does.