Semiconductors and Charge Carriers

Materials with conductivity between conductors (metals) and insulators (ceramics).

Electrons and holes that carry current in semiconductors.

Negatively charged particle that carries current in semiconductors.

Positively charged 'empty space' that carries current in semiconductors.

Higher than hole mobility in semiconductors.

Lower than electron mobility in semiconductors.

Pure semiconductor material with equal number of electrons and holes.

Doped semiconductor material with added impurities to alter its properties.

Common semiconductor used in electronic circuits.

Semiconductor used in solar cells and lasers.

Energy band where electrons are free to move.

Energy band where electrons are tightly bound to atoms

Energy levels in a solid material that result from the splitting of atomic energy levels.

The energy difference between the valence band and conduction band in a semiconductor.

The highest filled energy band in a semiconductor, containing valence electrons.

The lowest unoccupied energy band in a semiconductor, available for charge carriers.

The highest occupied energy level at absolute zero in a semiconductor.

A negatively charged subatomic particle.

A vacancy in the valence band that behaves like a positive charge carrier.

A material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator.

A semiconductor doped with impurities which increases the density of electrons.

A semiconductor doped with impurities which increases the density of holes.

Charge carriers in semiconductors arise from external energy (like thermal agitation), causing valence electrons to jump to the conduction band, leaving "holes" behind.

The resistance to current flow in semiconductors; it decreases with increasing temperature due to the increased number of charge carriers.

A pure semiconductor material, containing only one type of atom, with electrical conductivity arising from thermally generated charge carriers.

An impure semiconductor material; its conductivity is enhanced by adding impurities or doping; therefore, it has increased conductivity.

The change in resistance of a semiconductor material per degree Celsius change in temperature; it's negative for semiconductors.

In semiconductors, current flow occurs due to both electrons and holes.

Semiconductors act like insulators at absolute zero and become conductors as temperature increases.

A pure semiconductor with equal numbers of free electrons and holes.

A semiconductor with added impurities to enhance conductivity.

Adding impurity atoms to a semiconductor to modify its properties.

An extrinsic semiconductor doped with pentavalent impurities, predominantly carrying negative charge carriers (electrons).

An extrinsic semiconductor doped with trivalent impurities, predominantly carrying positive charge carriers (holes).

A physical constant that relates macroscopic properties to microscopic properties.

The difference in energy between the valence band and the conduction band.

The energy band in a semiconductor that contains free electrons able to conduct electricity

Containing the electrons that hold the atoms together in the lattice.

Ability of a material to conduct electric current.

Semiconductors are used in many everyday devices, from temperature sensors in 3D printers to microchips in self-driving cars. They're also found in calculators, solar panels, and computers.

Semiconductors' unique physical and chemical properties allow creation of microchips, LEDs, and solar cells.

Semiconductors are small, use less power, are shockproof, and have a long lifespan.

Energy (often from light) is needed to create electron-hole pairs in semiconductors.

A semiconductor doped with acceptors, creating 'holes' that contribute to current.

Determining the maximum light wavelength required to create holes in a semiconductor with specified energy levels.

A semiconductor doped with a pentavalent impurity, increasing electron (negative charge) carriers as the majority.

A semiconductor doped with a trivalent impurity, increasing holes (positive charge) carriers as the majority.

Pentavalent impurity atom in a semiconductor that donates an extra electron for conduction.

Trivalent impurity atom in a semiconductor that accepts an electron, creating a hole.

The charge carriers (electrons or holes) present in the largest number in a doped semiconductor.

The charge carriers (electrons or holes) present in the smallest number in a doped semiconductor.

A pure semiconductor with equal electron and hole densities.

A doped semiconductor with an unequal electron and hole densities.

The ability of a material to conduct electricity.

Used in wide range of electronic devices due to reliability, compactness, low-cost and controlled electricity conduction.