What is n-type semiconductor?
When a small amount of pentavalent impurity is added to a pure semiconductor it is known as n-type semiconductor. The addition of pentavalent impurity provides a large number of free electrons in the semiconductor crystal.
Pentavalent impurity: Arsenic, Antimony
Such impurities which produce n-type semiconductor are known as donor, impurities because they donate or provide free electrons to the semiconductor crystal.
Conduction in n-type semiconductor
The current conduction in an n-type semiconductor is predominantly by free electrons i.e. negative charges and is called n-type or electron-type conductivity. When a potential difference is applied across the n-type semiconductor, the free electrons(donated by impurity) in the crystal will be directed towards the positive terminal, constituting an electric current. As the current through the crystal is predominantly by free electrons which are carriers of negative charge. Therefore, this type of conductivity is called negative or n-type conductivity.
On Adding pentavalent impurities into silicon such as arsenic, it is forced to bond with neighboring silicon atoms as in diamond crystal structure. Only four electrons will participate in bonding leaving one extra electron. This extra electron becomes a free electron because it is not attached to any atom. Therefore, for each arsenic atom added, one free electron will be available in the silicon crystal. Though each arsenic atom added provides one free electron, an extremely small amount of arsenic impurity provides enough atoms to supply millions of free electrons. Since this type of extrinsic semiconductor provides a large number of free electrons, it is called an n-type semiconductor (n stands for a negative charge on an electron).
The extra 5th electron continuously goes on orbiting to arsenic (AS+) ion core similar to electron in hydrogen atom. Hence ionization energy required to free the electron is:
For hydrogen,
since ,the electron is orbiting in the silicon environment hence we have to use absolute permittivity of silicon and effective mass of electron in silicon,
Also, average thermal energy of atomic vibration is 3KT and nearly equals 0.07ev.
Thus, this 5th electron is normally found in conduction band.
In n-type semiconductors, the conduction electrons are the majority charge carriers and holes are the minority charge carriers. If n and p are electrons and hole concentration and Nd is donor concentration, then,
Hole concentration in n-type semiconductor is less than intrinsic hole concentration because some of the electron in conduction band recombine with hole to maintain
This is called minority carrier suppression.
so conductivity is mainly due to mobility of electrons in type semiconductors.
Energy band in N-type semiconductor
As atom sites energy 10^6 silicon atoms. The energy band diagram for an n-type semiconductor with As is shown above in the diagram. One pentavalent (arsenic) impurity atom is added to pure (intrinsic) silicon. The impurity atom has 5 valance electrons. Four of the arsenic atom`s valence electrons are used to form covalent bonds with 4 silicon atoms, leaving one extra electron.
References
- https://byjus.com/question-answer/what-is-ptype-and-ntype/
- https://www.wevolver.com/article/understanding-n-type-vs-p-type-semiconductors
- https://www.physics-and-radio-electronics.com/electronic-devices-and-circuits/semiconductor/extrinsic-semiconductor/n-type-semiconductor.html