Britannica AI Icon

n-type semiconductor

electronics

Quick Summary

An n-type semiconductor is a material used in electronics that conducts electricity primarily through the movement of negatively charged electrons. Semiconductors, in general, fall between conductors and insulators in their electrical conductivity. Pure silicon, a common semiconductor material, has high resistance. However, its conductivity can be significantly increased by adding impurities, a process called doping.123

When silicon is doped with atoms that have more electrons in their outer shell than silicon (like phosphorus or arsenic), these extra electrons become free to move and conduct current. This creates an n-type semiconductor. These materials are crucial for manufacturing electronic devices such as diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits. The ability to control their conductivity makes them fundamental to modern electronics.4325

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.