extrinsic semiconductor
electronics
Quick Summary
An extrinsic semiconductor is a material whose electrical conductivity has been modified by deliberately adding impurities, known as dopants. This process, called doping, is crucial for creating electronic devices like transistors and diodes.12
There are two main types of extrinsic semiconductors:
- n-type: Created by adding dopants with more outer electrons than the semiconductor material (e.g., phosphorus in silicon). These extra electrons become charge carriers, making the semiconductor conduct electricity through negative charges.1
- p-type: Created by adding dopants with fewer outer electrons (e.g., boron in silicon). This creates "holes," which are positively charged sites that allow the semiconductor to conduct electricity through positive charges.1
By combining n-type and p-type materials, engineers can create p-n junctions, which are fundamental to modern electronics.2
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