Semiconductor Conductivity

It is well known to us that the conductivity of a material depends on the concentration of free electrons in it. Good conductors consist large concentration of free electrons whereas insulators consist small concentration of free electrons.

Which semiconductor has highest conductivity?

Material	Resistivity (Ω-cm)	Conductivity (Ω-1-cm-1)
Semiconductors
Carbon (Graphite)	3-60 x 10-5	1.67 × 103 to 3.33 × 104
Germanium	1-500 x 10-3	2.0 to 1.00 × 103

What is the resistivity and conductivity of semiconductor?

Semiconductors have an electrical resistivity value between those of conductors and insulators—10-4 to 108 Ωcm. Electrical resistance (R) is the resistance to a flow of electric current through a material.

Why is conductivity of n-type semiconductor?

The conductivity of n-type semiconductor is greater than that of the p-type semiconductor because mobility of electrons is greater than that of holes. where n0 is a constant and kB = 8.62 x 10–5 eV/K.

How can we control conductivity of semiconductor?

Doping is a procedure used for controlling the carrier concentration and hence the conductivity of semiconductors. It can be achieved by introducing into the semiconductor impurity atoms possessing a different number of valency electrons from those of the component elements of the semiconductor.

What is the unit of conductivity?

The SI unit of electrical conductivity is siemens per metre (S/m).

What are the 2 types of semiconductors?

Semiconductors are divided into two categories: Intrinsic Semiconductor. Extrinsic Semiconductor.

What are the 3 properties of semiconductors?

4 Important Properties of Semiconductors

• Property 1:The resistivity of a semiconductor is less than an insulator but higher than a conductor.
• Property 2: Semiconductors show a negative temperature coefficient of resistance.
• Property 3: At zero kelvin, semiconductors behave as insulators.

What is difference between conductivity and resistivity?

Conductivity vs Resistivity Since conductivity is the measure of how easily electricity flows, electrical resistivity measures how much a material resists the flow of electricity.

How is conductivity measured?

Conductivity can be measured either by the 2-AC bipolar method or electromagnetic induction method. The bipolar method measures the current that passes through the solution between a pair of electrodes. The electromagnetic induction method measures the induction current generated by two coils immersed in the solution.

How do you calculate conductivity?

To calculate the conductivity of a solution you simply multiply the concentration of each ion in solution by its molar conductivity and charge then add these values for all ions in solution.

What is n-type and p-type conductivity?

Adding an impurity atom with 3 valence electrons will produce a p-type extrinsic semiconductor; an impurity with 5 valence electrons will make an n-type extrinsic semiconductor. The electrons in a metal accelerate under the influence of an electric field.

What is p-type conductivity?

[′pē ¦tīp ‚kän‚dək′tiv·əd·ē] (electronics) The conductivity associated with holes in a semiconductor, which are equivalent to positive charges.

Which is better conductor p-type or n-type?

Since the n-type semiconductor has electrons as majority carriers and holes as minority carriers, whereas the p-type semiconductor has holes as majority carriers and electrons as minority carriers, therefore mobility of n-type is more than that of p-type.

What increases conductivity of semiconductor?

Conductivity of a semiconductor can be increased by adding either pentavalent or trivalent elements. The elements added to intrinsic semiconductor to increase conductivity are called dopants, the process of addition of dopants (impurities) is called doping.

What are factors that increase the conductivity of a semiconductor?

Electrical conductivity increases in semiconductors with increasing temperature. As you increase the temperature, electrons from the valence band are able to jump to the conduction band, creating free movement between the two bands, thus, increasing the conductivity.

How the conductivity of a semiconductor be increased?

When we increase the temperature, more electrons get the energy to jump from the Conduction band to the valence band and thereby increases the conductivity of the semiconductor. The conductivity of intrinsic semiconductors can also be increased by adding a suitable impurity. This process is called Doping.

What is the symbol of conductivity?

Symbols and Units Conductivity is usually represented by the Greek letter sigma (σ), and is measured in S m−1.

Is water a conductor?

Well actually, pure water is an excellent insulator and does not conduct electricity.

Is conductance and conductivity same?

Conductance is a property of the component but conductivity is a property of the material. Conductance depends on the dimensions of the conductor, but conductivity does not depend on the dimensions. Conductance is measured in Siemens while conductivity is measured in Siemens per meter.