Difference Between Intrinsic And Extrinsic Semiconductor

The main difference between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductor is that a pure semiconductor is intrinsic and an impure semiconductor is known as an extrinsic semiconductor. A semiconductor is a material that is not a good conductor and not a bad insulator.

Intrinsic Semiconductor

A semiconductor in its pure form is called an intrinsic semiconductor.

 The electrical properties of the semiconductor purely depend upon the purity of the semiconductor

Example: Silicon and Germanium are pure semiconductors

What is Doping?

The process of adding selected impurities in the pure semiconductor is called doping.

The impurity atoms are added in 1 to 10⁶ ratios.

Extrinsic Semiconductor

The impure semiconductor in which an impurity is added is called an extrinsic semiconductor.

Electronic Structure of Extrinsic Semiconductor

Since the semiconductors belong to the fourth group of the periodic table. Therefore they have four electrons in their valence shell.

Each atom in the semiconductor material is regularly arranged and forms four covalent bonds with its neighbors.

This effectively allocates eight electrons to the outermost orbit of each atom which is a stable state. Due to these covalent bonds, the electrons are bound in their respective shells.

N-Type Semiconductor

When a silicon material is doped with a pentavalent impurity i.e. atom from the fifth group like arsenic, antimony or phosphorus, etc.

Four electrons of the impurity atom make four covalent bonds with the silicon atoms and the fifth electron remain un-bonded.

This becomes the free electron in the crystal. This type of doped or extrinsic semiconductor is called an N-type semiconductor.

The impurity atom is called the donor atom because it donates a free electron. This electron is thermally excited into the conduction band

P-Type Semiconductors:

When a silicon crystal is doped with a trivalent impurity e.g. aluminum, boron, indium, or gallium.

Three valence electrons of the impurity atom form three covalent bonds with the silicon atoms, there is a missing electron to form the fourth covalent bond with the fourth neighbor silicon atom.

In other words, there is a vacancy in that bond. This vacancy is called the hole and is considered to have a positive charge.

This vacancy can accommodate an electron. Such a semiconductor is called a p-type semiconductor.

The impurity atom in this case is called the acceptor impurity because it can accept an electron from a nearby silicon atom thus creating a hole in the valence band.

Difference between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Semiconductor

Intrinsic Semiconductors	Extrinsic Semiconductors
The purest form of  Semiconductor	It is the impure form of Semiconductor
The conductivity is very low	The conductivity is very high than an intrinsic semiconductor.
There is a narrow band gap between the conduction and valence bands	The energy band gap is greater than that of an intrinsic semiconductor.
Fermi level can be found in the forbidden energy gap.	The presence of a Fermi level depends on the type of extrinsic semiconductor.
Electrical conductivity determines by Temperature only.	Electrical conductivity in a pure semiconductor is affected by temperature as well as the quantity of impurity doping.
Pure Germanium and Silicon crystalline forms are examples.	Impurities such as arsenic, antimony, aluminum, and others are doped with Germanium and Silicon atoms.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)