পি-টাইপ আর এন-টাইপ অর্ধপরিবাহক

When semiconductors are introduced to another element, this element introduces a new property into the structure of the semiconductor at the microscopic level. This can either occur and generate an n-type semiconductor or a p-type semiconductor.

Let us take a look at the n-type semiconductor first. When an element is mixed with a semiconductor that has a larger number of valence electrons, those electrons are donated to the valence band. These types of element are called donor impurities, as their function suggests. Thus the electron density of the material is increased and the conduction capacity is improved. Such can increase the conductivity of a semiconductor by an immense amount proportional to how much of the other metal was actually added.

Now let us take a look at the p-type semiconductor. In a p-type semiconductor, elements are introduce that accept electrons from the original element. They are thus called acceptor impurities. These serve to increase the concentration of holes in the material and also greatly improve the conduction ability of the compound material.

Note that this process of converting a semiconductor to n-type or p-type is often referred to as changing from an intrinsic to an extrinsic semiconductor.