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Semiconductors
Semiconductors are quite possible one of the most important things in the modern world. The are made from crystal and can act as conductors or insulators in different circumstances.
Silicon
Silicon is the most common semiconductor crystal. A silicon atom has natural imbalance as its outer electron shell has only 4 electron but would like eight. Therefore it will link up with four of it's neighbors to share electron forming a tight uniform structure called a crystal.
Silicon is the second (to Oxygen) most available element on earth. It is the main ingredient of sand. It is however almost never found in it's pure form which is dark grey in colour. However pure silicon isn't very useful. To make it useful different elements are added to create different purposes. The most common additives are phosphorus and boron. Adding these elements (known as doping) produces silicon crystal with very useful properties.
P and N Silicon
When Boron, Phosphorus (and some others atoms) it is called a P or N type silicon. Boron has only three electron in its outer shell and phosphorus has five electron in its outer shell. I'm sure you can see the pieces falling together now.
N-Type Silicon
When silicon, which has 4 out of 8 wanted electron to complete it's outer shell, is mixed with phosphorus, which has 5 out of 8 electron to complete it's outer shell, the resultant material has an extra electron which can move through the crystal, allowing a current to flow meaning it can be a conductor. The excess electron gives it the name negative or N-Type.
P-Type Silicon
When silicon, which has 4 out of 8 wanted electron to complete it's outer shell, is mixed with boron, which has 3 out of 8 electron to complete it's outer shell, the resultant material has is missing an electron. This 'hole' can move about the crystal structure because it is very easy for a neighboring electron to fall into the hole leaving a new hole where it moved from. This makes it possible for a current to pass though. These 'holes' or electron deficiencies gives it the name positive or P-Type.
So both of these structures can conduct electricity, via moving electron or moving 'holes'. The combination of these two is very very very useful, and drives most of the modern world. In this section we'll look at how these differences are used.
Semiconductors | | | Author | Message | | Anonymous
169 | I need to find an atomic model of Iron. Help, anyone? | vvek16@yahoo.com
3 | can any one suggest me about practical testing of these electronics components or there is any site related to it.
thanks in advance | vvek16@yahoo.com
3 | how to check a thyristor practically using multimeter or tong-tester whether its working or worn out.
tnx in advance | vvek16@yahoo.com
3 | how to check a thyristor practically using multimeter or tong-tester whether its working or worn out.
tnx in advance | Anonymous
169 | Gotta love those with no job and too much time on their hands. By the way, Anonymous 158, I'll take a #1 with cheese, and TWO packets of Ketchup. Also, sulphur is what is on a match tip. Septic tanks emit methane. It's OK though. You'll learn that when you get to high school, if you don't drop out first. Then again, I'm not sure if they teach chemistry in juvenile hall. It's kind of pointless. After all, for someone who couldn't determine right form wrong, Avogadro's number would be more than they could comprehend. Good luck in life, you'll probably need it. Now I know why I have to pay so much in taxes. I'm getting real tired of paying to support morons. | Anonymous
169 | You made a mistake in the p-silicon picture. You missed an h! | clementmambwe
6 | what semiconductor is more useful in an audio system circuit and why? | Anonymous
169 | This is really helpful thanks. | Anonymous
169 | saaaaafeee | Anonymous
169 | yoyoyo iz gd thx! | Anonymous
169 | so.. how is everyone? | Anonymous
169 | lol! @ person below! | Anonymous
169 | OMGZ LOLZ I LOVE TRANSISTORS!
they taste better than peanuts and feel great up my ***! | Anonymous
169 | otherwise why not "Fosforus"? | Anonymous
169 | the word is spelt "Sulphur" for god's sake, whatever the septic tanks try to force on us. | Anonymous
169 | Sulfur I think. Anyone? | Bryana
1 | Which one of these...Silicon, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Boron, is least likely to be used in semiconductors? | |
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