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What are majority and minority charge carriers in semiconductors?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
There are two recognized types of charge carriers in
semiconductors. One is
electrons, which carry a negative
electric charge. In addition, it is convenient to treat the traveling vacancies in the
valence bandelectron population (
holes) as the second type of charge carrier, which carry a positive charge equal in magnitude to that of an electron
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe minority charge carriers in an n-type extrinsic semiconductor is the drift current that arises as a result of the vibration of electrons and temperature variation.
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Describe the difference between majority and minority carriers?
FOR n-type semiconductor the majority charge carrier is electron and for n-type semiconductor it is hole. the majority and minority charge carrier is result of free electron and hole. the majority charge carrier is responsible for transport of electron.
Define reverse saturation current?
In diode some current flows for the presence of the minority charge carriers. This current is known as reverse saturated current. This is generally measured by picoampere. This current is independent of reverse voltage. It only depends on the thermal excitation of the minority carriers
Why transistor is called transistor?
Because in this device the resistance between two terminal respectively collector and emitter is changed by changing the base voltage that is it transfers the resistance between emitter and collector therefore it is called as TRANSISTOR. (TRANSFER OF RESISTOR)
How are N type semiconductors formed?
N-type semiconductors are a type of extrinsic semiconductor where the dopant atoms (donors) are capable of providing extra conduction electrons to the host material (e.g. phosphorusin silicon). This creates an excess of negative (n-type) electron charge carriers.
How do you control PN-junction?
When a pn junction is direct polarized, the height of the depletion layer is reduced and majority charge carriers now have sufficient energy to cross the junction and when it is revers polarized the height of the depletion layer is increased and the number of majority charge with sufficient energy to cross the junction is cut sharply.
What roles do free electrons and holes play in intrinsic semiconductor?
Free electrons and holes are the charge carriers-not only in intrinsic semiconductors(these are the purest form of semiconductors-typically as pure as can be made available with the present technology) but also in extrinsic semiconductors(doped semiconductors).In intrinsic semiconductors,electron-hole pairs are created due to the natural processes like-absorption of heat energy from the surroundingsabsorption of energy from photons.this absorbed energy results in breakdown ofcovalant bonds in intrinsic semiconductors as a result of which electron-hole pairs are created.It is this electron hole pair which is responsible for carrying the current through the intrinsic semiconductor when a potential difference is applied across it.In extrinsic semiconductor the case is slightly different-here, we have-majority charge carriers and minority charge carriers.in an n-type semiconductor-majority charge carriers are the electrons contributed by the pentavalent impurities while the minority charge carriers are the holes which are generated as electron-hole pairs due to natural processes discussed above.in p-type semiconductor-majority charge carriers are the holes contributed by trivalent impuritieswhereas the minority charge carriers are the electronswhich are generated as electron-hole pairs due to natural processes discussed above.these are the majority charge carriers which contribute heavily in the flow of current through the extrinsic semiconductors than the minority charge carriers.I suggest you to please go through mass action law and law of electrical neutrality of semiconductors for better understanding.
What is minority charge carrier?
In semiconductor devices there are two types of charge carriers: electrons and holes. In N-type doped semiconductor the majority charge carriers are electrons and the minority charge carriers are holes. In P-type doped semiconductor the majority charge carriers are holes and the minority charge carriers are electrons.Some kinds of semiconductor devices operate using minority charge carriers in part(s) of their structure. The common bipolar junction transistor is one of these, they are sensitive to a phenomenon called thermal runaway because additional minority carriers are produced as temperature increases. (field effect transistors however operate using only majority carriers and are thus not sensitive to thermal runaway)
Describe the difference between majority and minority carriers?
FOR n-type semiconductor the majority charge carrier is electron and for n-type semiconductor it is hole. the majority and minority charge carrier is result of free electron and hole. the majority charge carrier is responsible for transport of electron.
Why p type semiconductor has majority charge carrier as hole?
The majority carrier in p-type semiconductor is the hole. Electron carriers in p-type semiconductor are minority carriers. Minority carriers in any semiconductor are produced mainly by heat. Only at absolute zero temperature would there be no minority carriers.
What are the semiconductors in the periodic table?
Semiconductors can either be intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic semiconductors are elements that are in their pure form. These will usually have positive and negative sides because the electrons migrate towards one direction. On the other hand, extrinsic semiconductors are when the conductivity (or ability to make an electric charge with the electrons) are controlled by adding other atoms. These atoms that are added are called dopants. Dopants donate or receive electrons from the semiconductor to make impure.
What is unipolar device?
bipolar devices use both majority and minority current carriersunipolar devices use only majority current carriers
What is the difference between the minority charge carriers and majority charge carriers in diodes?
Majority charge carriers in the N-type side of a semiconductor material are electrons, because N-type semiconductor is doped with a material with 5 valence electrons. Semiconductor materials have 4 valence electrons and hold tightly to 8, so there is a "loose" electron for every atom of dopant. Therefore most of the charge carriers available are electrons. IE, electrons are the majority charge carriers. Minority charge carriers in N-type semiconductor are holes. Only a few holes (lack of an electron) are created by thermal effects, hence holes are the minority carriers in N-type material. The situation is reversed in P-type semiconductor. A material having only 3 valence electrons is doped into the semiconductor. The semiconductor atoms have 4 valence electrons try to hold tightly to 8, so there is a virtual hole created by a "missing" electron in the valence orbit. This acts as if it were a positive charge carrier. Most of the charge carriers are these holes, therefore in P-type semiconductor holes are the majority charge carrier. Again, reverse situation to minority charge carriers. Some electrons are loosened by thermal effects, they are the minority charge carriers in P-type semiconductor.
What does free carriers?
Assuming you do not mean the plastic bags at the supermarket checkout that cost nothing, then you may be referring to free charge carriers in electical conductors and semiconductors, which are electrons in metallic conductors and electrons or "holes" in semiconductors. Now what was the question?
Why the compound semiconductors are not suitable for making transistors and ICs?
Compound semiconductors have very low lifetime of charge carriers and hence they are not used for making Transistors and ICs.Rather it is used for making LEDs and LASER diodes.So the compound semiconductors are called photo-diodes. -M.R
The subatomic particle that is the cause of electricity?
The most common charge carrier in electricity is the electron. However there are special cases where other things act as charge carriers, but they are usually not subatomic particles:In electrolytes the charge carriers are ionsIn aqueous electrolytes it is possible for hydrogen ions (protons) to be charge carriersIn semiconductors the charge carriers can be either electrons or holes (virtual particles produced by electron gaps in valence band)
Define reverse saturation current?
In diode some current flows for the presence of the minority charge carriers. This current is known as reverse saturated current. This is generally measured by picoampere. This current is independent of reverse voltage. It only depends on the thermal excitation of the minority carriers
What parameter in a germanium diode differs from those in a silicon diode?
germenium diode contains majority electron as a charge carriers while the silicon diode contains holes as a majority charge cariers,
