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Session 26
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Topics
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1. Band Theory of Solids
In order to account for decreasing resistivity with
increasing temperature as well as other properties of
semiconductors, a new theory known as the band theory
is introduced.
The essential feature of the band theory is that the
allowed energy states for electrons are nearly continuous
over certain ranges, called energy bands, with forbidden
energy gaps between the bands.
In the symmetric case the binding energy is slightly
stronger resulting in a lower energy state.
Thus there is a splitting of all possible energy levels (1s, 2s,
and so on).
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Valence band: Band occupied by the outermost electrons
Conduction band : Lowest band with unoccupied states
Conduction
band
Valence
band
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Valence and Conduction Bands
The band structures of insulators and semiconductors resemble each
other qualitatively. Normally there exists in both insulators and
semiconductors a filled energy band (referred to as the valence band)
separated from the next higher band (referred to as the conduction
band) by an energy gap.
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Smaller energy gaps create semiconductors
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2. Semiconductor
Semiconductors are materials that essentially can be
conditioned to act as good conductors, or good
insulators, or any thing in between.
Common elements such as carbon, silicon, and
germanium are semiconductors.
Silicon is the best and most widely used semiconductor.
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(b) Resistivity
The resistivity of material : = m/(e2n)
Where: - m is the electron mass
- e is fundamental charge
- n is the number of charge carries per unit
Volume
- is the mean time between collisions of
the charge caries
In a semiconductor, n is small but increases very
rapidly with temperature as the increased thermal
agitation makes more charge carriers available.
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(c) Temperature coefficient of resistivity
The fractional change in resistivity per unit change in
temperature:
For silicon:
- collision frequency increase with temperature
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Extra weakly bound valence electron from As lies in an
energy level close to the empty conduction band. These
levels donate electrons to the conduction band.
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Doping
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Semiconductors can be Conductors
An impurity, or
element like arsenic,
has 5 valence
electrons.
Adding arsenic
(doping) will allow
four of the arsenic
valence electrons to
bond with the
neighboring silicon
atoms.
The one electron left
over for each arsenic
atom becomes
available to conduct
current flow.
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Resistance Effects of Doping
If you use lots of arsenic atoms for doping, there will be
lots of extra electrons so the resistance of the material
will be low and current will flow freely.
If you use only a few boron atoms, there will be fewer
free electrons so the resistance will be high and less
current will flow.
By controlling the doping amount, virtually any
resistance can be achieved.
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3. Electrons and holes
Semiconductors distinguish themselves from metals and
insulators by the fact that they contain an "almost-empty"
conduction band and an "almost-full" valence band. This also
means that we will have to deal with the transport of carriers
in both bands.
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This last term therefore represents the sum taken over all
the empty states in the valence band, or:
The sum over all the states in the valence band has to
equal zero since electrons in a completely filled band do
not contribute to current, while the remaining term can be
written as:
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n-type Semiconductor
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Ga has only three electrons and creates a hole in one of the
bonds. As electrons move into the hole the hole moves
driving electric current
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n-type Semiconductor
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The pn junction