Semiconductor Electronic Materials Devices and Simple Circuits – Solutions

1) In an n-type silicon, which of the following statements is true?

(a) Electrons are the majority carriers and trivalent atoms are the dopants.

(b) Electrons are the minority carriers and pentavalent atoms are the dopants.

(c) Holes are the minority carriers and pentavalent atoms are the dopants.

(d) Holes are the majority carriers and trivalent atoms are the dopants.

Solution:

An n-type semiconductor is obtained by doping the Ge or Si with pentavalent atoms. In an n-type semiconductor, electrons are the majority carriers and holes are the minority carriers, and hence, option (c) is true.

2) Which of the statements given in Exercise 14.1 is true for p-type semiconductors?