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14: Introduction to Semiconductor Devices

  • Page ID
    100288
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    • 14.1: Introduction
    • 14.2: Band Theory of Solids
      The energy levels of an electron in a crystal can be determined by solving Schrödinger’s equation for a periodic potential and by studying changes to the electron energy structure as atoms are pushed together from a distance. The energy structure of a crystal is characterized by continuous energy bands and energy gaps. The ability of a solid to conduct electricity relies on the energy structure of the solid
    • 14.3: Semiconductors and Doping
      The energy structure of a semiconductor can be altered by substituting one type of atom with another (doping). Semiconductor n-type doping creates and fills new energy levels just below the conduction band. Semiconductor p-type doping creates new energy levels just above the valence band. The Hall effect can be used to determine charge, drift velocity, and charge carrier number density of a semiconductor.
    • 14.4: Introduction to Semiconductor Devices
      A diode is produced by an n-p junction. A diode allows current to move in just one direction. In forward biased configuration of a diode, the current increases exponentially with the voltage. A transistor is produced by an n-p-n junction. A transistor is an electric valve that controls the current in a circuit. A transistor is a critical component in audio amplifiers, computers, and many other devices.
    • 14.5: Junction Diodes
      There were some historic crude, but usable were some historic crude, but usable semiconductor rectifiers before high purity materials were available. Ferdinand Braun invented a lead sulfide, PbS, based point contact rectifier in 1874. Cuprous oxide rectifiers were used as power rectifiers in 1924. The forward voltage drop is 0.2 V. The linear characteristic curve perhaps is why Cu2O was used as a rectifier for the AC scale on D’Arsonval based multimeters. This diode is also photosensitive.
    • 14.6: Light Emitting Diode
      How light-emitting diodes work. Discussion of direct and indirect band-gap semiconductors, and recombination centers.
    • 14.7: Solar Cells
      The structure of solar cells.
    • 14.8: Bipolar Junction Transistors
      The bipolar junction transistor (BJT) was named because its operation involves conduction by two carriers: electrons and holes in the same crystal. The first bipolar transistor was invented at Bell Labs by William Shockley, Walter Brattain, and John Bardeen so late in 1947 that it was not published until 1948. Thus, many texts differ as to the date of invention. Brattain fabricated a germanium point contact transistor, bearing some resemblance to a point contact diode. Within a month, Shockley h
    • 14.9: Junction Field-effect Transistors
      The field effect transistor was proposed by Julius Lilienfeld in US patents in 1926 and 1933 (1,900,018). Moreover, Shockley, Brattain, and Bardeen were investigating the field effect transistor in 1947. Though, the extreme difficulties sidetracked them into inventing the bipolar transistor instead. Shockley’s field effect transistor theory was published in 1952. However, the materials processing technology was not mature enough until 1960 when John Atalla produced a working device.


    14: Introduction to Semiconductor Devices is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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