SEMICONDUCTOR

SEMICONDUCTOR IN TERMS OF RESISTANCE AND FREE ELECTRONS

1. What is a semiconductor?

• A substance or an element
• Has a resistance value which is in between an insulator and a
conductor.

What is an insulator?

• A substance or an element
• Does not allow the electricity to pass through it

What is a conductor?

• A substance or an element
• Allow the electricity to pass through it

2. What are element that have the properties of semiconductor?

• Silicon
• Germanium
• Selenium

All the above element are solid at room temperature and metals. They are
called semiconductors.

3. The table shows resistance values among conductors, semiconductors and

insulator substances at the same temperature.
 Conductor Semiconductor Insulator
µΩ µΩ µΩ

Gold Germanium Glass

2.0 105 1018

Silver Silicon Ceramic

1.5 103-106 1020

Copper Selenium Polythene

1.6 107 1024

4. Other examples of semiconductor elements are antimony, boron and

tellurium.
Some substances have properties of semiconductor such as gallium arsenide
and indium antimonide.

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5. Structure of silicones and its inter-atom bonds (In its lattice crystal)

• A silicon atom has four valencies.

• It means that it has four valance electrons.

• All the valence electrons are used to form covalent bonds with the
neighboring silicon atoms as shown in the diagram.

• At a room temperature silicon acts like an insulator because the

atoms have no free electrons.

• But when the temperature increases, the vibration in its lattice

increases.

• At a high temperature, thermal energy is changed to kinetic

electron energy and therefore it is ready for conducting
electricity.

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n-TYPE AND p-TYPE

1. The conductivity of semiconductor can be increased by adding a small

quantity of specific impurities.

2. The process of adding a small quantity of specific impurities is called

doping process.

3. There are two ways of doping process.

• Adding pentavalent elements

• Adding trivalent elements

4. By adding a pentavalent element into the silicones, the n-type

semiconductor will be produced. While adding a trivalent element into
the silicones will produce the p-type semiconductor.

5. n-Type semiconductor.

• n-Type semiconductor is produced when a pentavalent element

is doped to a semiconductor element (silicon).
• A pentavalent element is an element that has five valence
electrons.
• Examples of pentavalent elements are antimony, arsenic and
phosphorus.
• After doping the pentavalent element, an excess electron will
exist.
• Why?

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 When a pentavalent atom is doped to the silicones. One of five
valence electrons can not be paired because silicones have only
four valence electrons each. It is an excess electron. This excess
electron plays a role in the conductivity of electricity. And it
makes a semiconductor element conducting electricity. This
electron is called a majority charge carrier.

6. p-Type semiconductor.

• p-Type semiconductor is produced when a trivalent element is

doped to a semiconductor element (silicon).
• A trivalent element is an element that has three valence electrons.
• Examples of trivalent elements are boron, gallium and indium.
• After doping the trivalent element, a hole will exist.
• Why?

When a trivalent atom is doped to the silicones. One of four

valence electrons that belongs to silicon atom can not be paired
because a trivalent atom has only three valence electrons.
Then, a hole is formed to replace the electron that can not be
paired. The hole plays a role in conductivity of electricity. And it
makes a semiconductor element conducting electricity. This hole
is called a majority charge carrier.

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 SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

1. A semiconductor diode is produced after both n-type and p-type

semiconductors are attached together.

p-n

2. n-type semiconductor consists of electrons, while p-type semiconductor

consists of holes. The electrons from n-type move to p-type across the junction to
fill the holes. This can cause n-type semiconductor positively charged and p-type
negatively charged.

3. Regarding to the different charged semiconductor, a voltage exists in between

two type of semiconductors. It is called a junction voltage.

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CURRENT FLOW THROUGH A SEMICONDUCTIOR DIODE (p-n junction)

There are two ways how to connect to a diode:

1. FORWARD BIAS CONECTIVITY

The bulb lights up

2. REVERSE BIAS CONECTIVITY

The bulb does not light up

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DIODES AS RECTIFIERS

1. In a forward bias connectivity of a diode, electrical current is allowed to move

from anode to cathode only. It means that, the electrical current can flow in a
one- way direction only.

2. This property of diodes is important and it is used in exchanging from

alternating current (ac) to direct currant (dc)

3. The exchanging process from ac to dc is called rectification. The diode that

involved in this process is called rectifier.

HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER CIRCUIT

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 A

A circuit which contains a diode.

Current moves from A terminal to B terminal. The current is detected by CRO. A

forward bias happens. The CRO show the first half wave. Then from B terminal
the current is not allow to move to A terminal. A reverse bias happens. From B
terminal to A terminal the CRO does not show the voltage.

From the above circuit, the CRO shows an output voltage-time graph of the half-
wave rectification.

Output voltage- time graph with a diod

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HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER CIRCUIT

The alternating current start from A terminal D1 resistor (detected by

CRO) D3 B terminal.

A to B route and B to A route of current. This route are repeated and a plot like
this will be formed.

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 Full wave rectification

THE USE OF CAPACITOR TO SMOOTH OUT THE OUTPUT CURRENT

AND OUT PUT VOLTAGE IN A RECTIFIER CIRCUIT.

1. The output voltage in a rectifier (combination of four diodes) circuit is shown in

the above diagram.

2. The output voltage is not smooth. By connecting to a capacitor in the circuit.

The output voltage can be improved.

3. A capacitor is being charged during the first half of the wave. Electrical
charges are restored during the first half of the wave.

4. During the second half of the wave, the voltage decreases. At this time the
electrical charges start to be used. So, the voltage is to be maintained.

5. Therefore the output voltage becomes smooth.

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Without a capacitor in circuit (half wave circuit).

A capacitor in circuit (half wave circuit).

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Without a capacitor in circuit (full wave circuit).

A capacitor in circuit (full wave circuit).

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ASSESEMENT

PART A [OBJECTIEVE TEST]

1. The diagram shows a circuit containing bulb x, y and z.

Which bulb in the circuit will light up when the switch is on?

A Z only
B X and Y only
C Y and Z only
D X, Y and Z

2. Which of the following is true about semiconductors?

A Electrons and holes act as charge carriers.

B A semiconductor will become an insulator at room temperature.
C Its conductivity will increase when its temperature drops.

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3. Which of the following shows the effect of doping a small amount of
pentavalent element to germanium?

A The electrical conductivity of substance increases

B The electrical resistance of substance equals to zero
C The density of substance increases
D The rigidity of substance decreases

4. What is the function of rectifier?

A To increase the voltage of alternating current

B To increase the power of alternating current
C To change the alternating current voltage to direct current voltage.

5. Which of the following component allows the current to move one-way?

A Termistor
B Capacitor
C Transistor
D Diode

PART B [SUBJECTIVE TEST]

1. Figure i and ii shows a semiconductor of p-type and n-type respectively.

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i. When the switches on mark with arrow head for the direction of electron flow
in the semiconductors.

ii. When the switches on mark with arrow head the direction of electron flow in
the external circuit.

iii. Name the majority charge carriers of the n-type and p-type semiconductors.

n-type : ………………………..

p-type : ………………………..

2. The figure shows a p-n semiconductor diode connected to batteries.

i. When the switch is closed, name the type of bias produced.

…………………………………………………………………………

ii. Explain briefly, the mechanism of flowing current at the p-n junction.

…………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………

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3. The figure shows a circuit used to study the function of a semiconductor diode
as a rectifier.

i. What is the main property/characteristic that allows a semiconductor diode to

be used as a rectifier.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

ii. Sketch the following axes, the shape of the output voltage and input voltage
as observed on the screen of the oscilloscope (CRO).

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ANSWER
PART A [OBJECTIEVE TEST]

1 C

2 A

3 A

4 C

5 D

PART B [SUBJECTIVE TEST]

1. Figure i and ii shows a semiconductor of p-type and n-type respectively.

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i. When the switches on mark with arrow head for the direction of electron flow
in the semiconductors. (answer is in the diagram)

ii. When the switches on mark with arrow head the direction of electron flow in
the external circuit. (answer is in the diagram)

iii. Name the majority charge carriers of the n-type and p-type semiconductors.
electron
n-type : ………………………..
hole
p-type : ………………………..

2. The figure shows a p-n semiconductor diode connected to batteries.

i. When the switch is closed, name the type of bias produced.

Forward bias
…………………………………………………………………………

ii. Explain briefly, the mechanism of flowing current at the p-n junction.
Electron from n-type semiconductor move to the junction
…………………………………………………………………………..
Then combine with hole in p-type semiconductor. The current flows
……………………………………………………………………………

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3. The figure shows a circuit used to study the function of a semiconductor diode
as a rectifier.

i. What is the main property/characteristic that allows a semiconductor diode to

be used as a rectifier.
Allow the current to flow one-way
……………………………………………………………………………………….

ii. Sketch the following axes, the shape of the output voltage and input voltage
as observed on the screen of the oscilloscope (CRO).
(answers provided/plotted in the diagram)

The end

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