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Introduction to Semiconductors

Types of Semiconductors

Semiconductors can be classified into two types: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic semiconductors are pure semiconducting materials like silicon or germanium in their natural state, without any impurities. Extrinsic semiconductors, on the other hand, are doped with impurities to alter their electrical properties.

Extrinsic semiconductors can be further classified into two types: n-type and p-type. N-type semiconductors are doped with impurities that have extra electrons, such as phosphorus or arsenic. These extra electrons increase the concentration of electrons in the material, making it negatively charged. P-type semiconductors, on the other hand, are doped with impurities that have fewer electrons than the semiconductor material, such as boron or aluminum. This creates a deficiency of electrons, making the material positively charged.

The electrical properties of semiconductors can be altered by doping with different impurities. For example, doping silicon with phosphorus creates an n-type semiconductor, while doping it with boron creates a p-type semiconductor. The doping concentration and distribution also affect the electrical properties of the semiconductor material.

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