Semiconductor Device Operation

Study Notes

Semiconductor devices are electronic components that exploit the unique properties of semiconductor materials to control the flow of electrical current.
These devices are the building blocks of modern electronic systems, including computers, smartphones, and televisions.

Semiconductors have electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators.
They are typically made from silicon (Si) or germanium (Ge), with small amounts of impurities added to modify their electrical properties.
Two types of semiconductor materials:
- Intrinsic semiconductor: pure semiconductor material with no impurities.
- Extrinsic semiconductor: semiconductor material with impurities added to create regions with different electrical properties.

A p-n junction is a region where two types of semiconductor materials with different electrical properties meet.
P-type semiconductor: has an excess of holes (positive charge carriers), created by adding acceptor impurities.
N-type semiconductor: has an excess of electrons (negative charge carriers), created by adding donor impurities.
The p-n junction is a critical component of semiconductor devices, allowing for the control of current flow.

A diode is a semiconductor device with a single p-n junction.
Forward bias: applying a positive voltage to the p-side and a negative voltage to the n-side, allowing current to flow.
Reverse bias: applying a negative voltage to the p-side and a positive voltage to the n-side, blocking current flow.

A transistor is a semiconductor device with two p-n junctions.
Bipolar junction transistor (BJT): uses both positive and negative charge carriers to control current flow.
Field-effect transistor (FET): uses voltage to control current flow.
Transistors can amplify or switch electronic signals.

Thyristors: devices that can be used for power control and switching, such as silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) and triacs.
Integrated circuits (ICs): complex electronic circuits fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate.
Optoelectronic devices: devices that convert light into electrical signals or vice versa, such as LEDs, photodiodes, and solar cells.

Semiconductor devices control the flow of electrical current by exploiting the unique properties of semiconductor materials.
These devices are the building blocks of modern electronic systems, including computers, smartphones, and televisions.

Semiconductors have electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators.
They are typically made from silicon (Si) or germanium (Ge) with small amounts of impurities added to modify their electrical properties.
Two types of semiconductor materials exist:
- Intrinsic semiconductor: pure semiconductor material with no impurities.
- Extrinsic semiconductor: semiconductor material with impurities added to create regions with different electrical properties.

A p-n junction is a region where two types of semiconductor materials with different electrical properties meet.
P-type semiconductor: has an excess of holes (positive charge carriers), created by adding acceptor impurities.
N-type semiconductor: has an excess of electrons (negative charge carriers), created by adding donor impurities.
The p-n junction is a critical component of semiconductor devices, allowing for the control of current flow.

A diode is a semiconductor device with a single p-n junction.
Forward bias: applying a positive voltage to the p-side and a negative voltage to the n-side, allowing current to flow.
Reverse bias: applying a negative voltage to the p-side and a positive voltage to the n-side, blocking current flow.

A transistor is a semiconductor device with two p-n junctions.
Bipolar junction transistor (BJT): uses both positive and negative charge carriers to control current flow.
Field-effect transistor (FET): uses voltage to control current flow.
Transistors can amplify or switch electronic signals.

Thyristors: devices that can be used for power control and switching, such as silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) and triacs.
Integrated circuits (ICs): complex electronic circuits fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate.
Optoelectronic devices: devices that convert light into electrical signals or vice versa, such as LEDs, photodiodes, and solar cells.