Semiconductors
Basic Definition and Properties Semiconductors are materials that have electrical conductivity between that of a conductor (like copper) and an insulator (like glass). This property makes them incredibly useful in electronic devices. The ability to control their electrical properties through doping (adding impurities) is what makes them so versatile. Types of Semiconductors Intrinsic Semiconductors : Pure forms of semiconductor materials without any significant impurities. Silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) are classic examples. Extrinsic Semiconductors : These are doped with impurities to modify their electrical properties. They are classified into: N-type Semiconductors : Doped with elements that have more valence electrons than the semiconductor material, providing extra electrons (negative charge carriers). P-type Semiconductors : Doped with elements that have fewer valence electrons, creating "holes" (positive charge carriers). Semiconductor Materials Silicon (Si) : The ...