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Why does a semiconductor have fewer free electron than a conductor?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Valence electrons only are able to cross the energy gap in semiconductors since it is greater than that of conductors. That is why semiconductors have fewer free electrons than conductors.
Kevin Greenfelder
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoIn a conductor, only one valence electron is loosely bound to the atom. This loosely bound electron breaks easily to make free electrons. As compared to a semiconductor, which is characterized by an atom with four electrons. It is difficult to break an electron like a conductor.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoValence electrons only are able to cross the energy gap in semiconductors since it is greater than that of conductors. That is why semiconductors have fewer free electrons than conductors.
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Is metal a good conductor of heat?
Yes, metal is a good conductor for both. The outer electrons, which are relatively free to move, are responsible for boty.Yes, metal is a good conductor for both. The outer electrons, which are relatively free to move, are responsible for boty.Yes, metal is a good conductor for both. The outer electrons, which are relatively free to move, are responsible for boty.Yes, metal is a good conductor for both. The outer electrons, which are relatively free to move, are responsible for boty.
What is free electron?
any electron that's NOT bound to an atom
Why is carbon a conductor?
Carbon, in it's graphite form, is a semiconductor. But not in it's diamond form. Materials such as metals, conduct electricity do so because when their atoms are arranged together in a solid, they have loosely bound electrons which can easily move through the material if an electric potential is applied to it. For instance, in a copper lattice, there is about one free electron available per atom of copper for conduction, which makes it a very good conductor of electricity. But, carbon holds on more tightly to its electrons so they are not as free to move from place to place as in the case of copper or other metals. It is one of a number of elements known as semiconductors. Its neighbor, one row down on the periodic table, is silicon, which is used for most commercial microchips produced today. In a semiconductor, electrons can't just flow through the material. They have to move from atom to atom in "jumps", according to the laws of quantum mechanics. When they jump, they leave a positively charged "hole", which can be later filled by another electron jumping in to take the first electron's place. Under the influence of an electric potential, one sees a slow movement of negatively charged electrons in one direction and positively charged "holes" in the other direction.
Why is Copper a good conductor and how is it's structure different from silicon and germanium?
The reason why copper is a good conductor is because there are a lot of free electrons that can carry the flowing current efficiently. These free electrons do not remain permanently associated with the copper atoms, instead they form an electron ‘cloud’ around the outside of the atom and are free to move through the solid quickly. http://web1.caryacademy.org/chemistry/rushin/StudentProjects/ElementWebSites/copper/uses_of_copper.htm
How many valance electrons does a semiconductor have?
It is not the number of valence electrons that an insulator has that is important. It is the way the valence electrons are "arranged" in the structure of the material that matters. If not all the valence electrons of a substance are "involved" in the structure of the material, then these electrons are said to be free electrons. They move about in the substance, and are free to contribute to electron flow. The metals are examples. In contrast with this, if all the electrons are bound up in a material, they are not free to support current flow, and the material is said to be an insulator. Said another way, if the valence electrons in a material are in a Fermi energy level that overlaps the conduction band for that material, the material is a conductor. In an insulator, the valence electrons are all in Fermi energy levels that are below the conduction band for that material, and it is an insulator. Applying a voltage to an insulator will not "lift" the valence electrons up into the conduction band to allow them to support current flow.
Why does a semiconductor have fewer electrons than a conductor?
Valence electrons only are able to cross the energy gap in semiconductors since it is greater than that of conductors. That is why semiconductors have fewer free electrons than conductors.
Why electrons are majority carrier in n type semiconductor?
In n-type semiconductors, electrons are the majority carriers because dopant atoms, such as phosphorus or arsenic, introduce extra electrons into the crystal lattice. These extra electrons are free to move and contribute to the conductivity of the material, making electrons the dominant charge carriers in n-type semiconductors.
How is conductor different from insulator?
A conductor has a free electron to which current can pass through
How is conductor different from an insulator?
A conductor has a free electron to which current can pass through
How can you increase number of free electron and holes in semi conductor?
1.By doping 2.by shining light on the surface of semiconductor materials 3.by increasing temperature
What is meant by intrinsic semiconductor?
Semiconductor in pure form (i.e. without doping) is called intrinsic or i-type semiconductor. The no of charge carrier in this case is determined by the materials itself only and not by the impurities. In an intrinsic semiconductor number of excited free electron is equal to the number of holes.
What metrial is semicondector?
By the basic definition a semiconductor has the free electrons between conductor and insulator................. the examples are carbon,silicon,phosporous etc.,
Why does current flow through a conductor explain?
The valence band electrons in a conductor are free to drift as an electron gas filling the conductor, in response to an electrical field imposed across the conductor/
Why does objects conduct electricity?
All materials have some amount of electrical resistance.The flow of electron is resisted by the collision of electron with neighbouring atom.So the free flow of electron is not obtained and hence conductor offer resistance.Although this is very small as ccompared to insulator and semiconductor but it exist
Why liquid is a good conductor?
It contains free electrons. Electricity is conducted by electrons. In liquids there are higher free electron contents than other so it is good conductor than other.
What makes a substance an insulator versus a conductor?
Hi, Answer lies in the electron distribution of the element. In insulator the valence electron in the outer most orbit is not present which in the case of conductor is present so insulators do not have free electron or losely held electron to conduct electricity so they are bad conductor of electricity or in other word they are INSULATORS. hope this answers your question
Is doping is used to increase the conductivity of intrinsic semi conductor material?
Doping a semiconductor provides additional charge carriers to the material. The dopant atoms are easily ionized, and this provides the semiconductor with either free electrons in the conduction band or electron vacancies (or holes) in the valence band, both of which allow the semiconductor to conduct electricity.
