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Electronic Devices

Electronic Devices PDF Notes, Important Questions and Synopsis

SYNOPSIS

  • Intrinsic semiconductors: Pure semiconductors in which the electrical conductivity is totally governed by the electrons excited from the valence band to the conduction band and in which no impurity atoms are added to increase their conductivity are called intrinsic semiconductors, and their conductivity is called intrinsic conductivity. Electrical conduction in pure semiconductors occurs by means of electron–hole pairs. In an intrinsic semiconductor,
    ne = nh = ni
    Where
    ne = free electron density in the conduction band
    nh = hole density in the valence band
    ni = intrinsic carrier concentration

  • Extrinsic semiconductors: A semiconductor doped with suitable impurity atoms so as to increase its conductivity is called an extrinsic semiconductor.
    Extrinsic semiconductors are of two types:
  1. n-type semiconductors
  2. p-type semiconductors
  • N-type semiconductors: The pentavalent impurity atoms are called donors because they donate electrons to the host crystal and the semiconductor doped with donors is called an n-type semiconductor. In n-type semiconductors, electrons are the majority charge carriers and holes are the minority charge carriers. Thus,

    begin mathsize 12px style text n end text subscript straight e approximately equal to straight N subscript straight d greater than greater than straight n subscript straight h end style
    Here, Nd = number density of donor atoms

  • p-type semiconductors: The trivalent impurity atoms are called acceptors because they create holes which can accept electrons from the nearby bonds. A semiconductor doped with acceptor type impurities is called a p-type semiconductor. In a p-type semiconductor, holes are the majority carriers and electrons are the minority charge carriers. Thus,

    begin mathsize 12px style text N end text subscript straight a approximately equal to straight n subscript straight h greater than greater than straight n subscript straight e end style
    Here, Na = number density of acceptor atoms

  • Holes: The vacancy or absence of electron in the bond of a covalently bonded crystal is called a hole. A hole serves as a positive charge carrier.

  • Mobility: The drift velocity acquired by a charge carrier in a unit electric field is called its electrical mobility and is denoted by m.
    begin mathsize 12px style text μ= end text straight v subscript straight d over straight E end style
    The mobility of an electron in the conduction band is greater than that of the hole (or electron) in the valence band.

    Electrical conductivity of a semiconductor: If a potential difference V is applied across a conductor of length L and area of cross-section A, then the total current I through it is given by
    I = eA(neve + nhvh)

    Where ne and nh are the electron and hole densities and ve and vh are their drift velocities, respectively. If e and h are the electron and hole mobilities, then the conductivity of the semiconductor is
    = e(neme + nhmh)
    and the resistivity
     begin mathsize 12px style text ρ= end text fraction numerator 1 over denominator straight e left parenthesis straight n subscript straight e straight mu subscript straight e plus straight n subscript straight h straight mu subscript straight h right parenthesis end fraction end style
    Conductivity of an intrinsic semiconductor increases exponentially with temperature as
    begin mathsize 12px style text σ=σ end text subscript 0 straight thin space exp open parentheses negative fraction numerator straight E subscript straight g over denominator 2 straight k subscript straight B straight T end fraction close parentheses end style
  • Forward and reverse biasing of a p-n junction: If the positive terminal of a battery is connected to the p-side and the negative terminal is connected to the n-side, then the p-n junction is said to be forward biased. Both electrons and holes move towards the junction. A current, called forward current, flows across the junction. Thus, a p-n junction offers a low resistance when it is forward biased.
    If the positive terminal of a battery is connected to the n-side and the negative terminal to the p-side, then the p-n junction is said to be reverse biased. The majority charge carriers move away from the junction. The potential barrier offers high resistance during the reverse bias. However, due to the minority charge carriers, a small current-called reverse or leakage current-flows in the opposite direction. Thus, a junction diode has almost a unidirectional flow of current.

  • Action of a transistor: When the emitter-base junction of an n-p-n transistor is forward biased, the electrons are pushed towards the base. As the base region is very thin and lightly doped, most of the electrons cross over to the reverse-biased collector. Because few electrons and holes always recombine in the base region, the collector current Ic is always slightly less than the emitter current IE.
    IE = IC + IB
    Where IB is the base current.

  • Three configurations of a transistor: A transistor can be used in one of the following three configurations:
  1. Common-base (CB) circuit
  2. Common-emitter (CE) circuit
  3. Common-collector (CC) circuit
  • Current gains of a transistor: Usually low current gains are defined.
  1. Common base current amplification factor or AC gain a: It is the ratio of the small change in the collector current to the small change in the emitter current when the collector base voltage is kept constant.
    begin mathsize 12px style straight alpha equals open square brackets δI subscript straight C over δI subscript straight E close square brackets subscript straight V subscript CB straight thin space to the power of equals straight thin space constant end exponent end subscript end subscript end style
  2. Common emitter current amplification factor or AC gain β: It is the ratio of the small change in the collector current to the small change in the base current when the collector emitter voltage is kept constant.

    begin mathsize 12px style text β= end text open square brackets δI subscript straight C over δI subscript straight B close square brackets subscript straight V subscript CE straight thin space to the power of equals straight thin space constant end exponent end subscript end subscript end style
  • Relations between α and β: The current gains α and β are related as

    begin mathsize 12px style text α= end text fraction numerator straight beta over denominator 1 plus straight beta end fraction and     straight beta equals fraction numerator straight alpha over denominator 1 plus straight alpha end fraction end style
  • Transistor as an amplifier: An amplifier is a circuit which is used for increasing the voltage, current or power of alternating form. A transistor can be used as an amplifier.

  • Logic gate: A logic gate is a digital circuit which has one or more inputs but only one output. It follows a logical relationship between input and output voltage.

  • Truth table: This table shows all possible input combinations and the corresponding output combinations for a logic gate.

  • Boolean expression: It is a shorthand method of describing the function of a logic gate in the form of an equation or an expression. It also relates all possible combinations of the inputs of a logic gate to the corresponding outputs.

  • Positive and negative logic: In a system, if the higher voltage level represents 1 and the lower voltage level represents 0, then the system is positive logic. If the higher voltage level represents 0 and the lower voltage level represents 1, then the system is negative logic.

  • OR gate: An OR gate can have any number of inputs but only one output. It gives higher output (1) if either input A or B or both are high (1), otherwise the output is low (0).
    A + B = Y
    Which is read as ‘A or B equals Y’.

  • AND gate: An AND gate can have any number of inputs but only one output. It gives a high output (1) if inputs A and B are both high (1), or else the output is low (0). It is described by the Boolean expression
    A . B = Y
    Which is read as ‘A and B equals Y’.

  • NOT gate: A NOT gate is the simplest gate, with one input and one output. It gives high output (1) if the input A is low (0) and vice versa.
    Whatever the input, the NOT gate inverts it. It is described by the Boolean expression

    begin mathsize 12px style straight A with bar on top    equals straight thin space straight Y end style
    Which is read as ‘not A equal Y’.
  • NAND (NOT+AND) gate: It is obtained by connecting the output of an AND gate to the input of a NOT gate. Its output is high if both inputs A and B are not high. It is described by the Boolean expression

    begin mathsize 12px style stack straight A. straight B straight thin space with bar on top equals straight Y straight thin space or     stack straight A straight thin space straight B straight thin space with bar on top equals straight Y end style
    Which is read as ‘A and B negated equals Y’.
  • NOR (NOT+OR) gate: It is obtained by connecting the output of an OR gate to the input of a NOT gate. Its output is high if neither input A nor input B is high. It is described by the Boolean expression
    begin mathsize 12px style stack straight A plus straight B with bar on top equals straight Y end style
    Which is read as ‘A and B negated equals Y’.

  • XOR or Exclusive OR gate: The XOR gate gives a high output if either input A or B is high but not when both A and B are high or low. It can be obtained by using a combination of two NOT gates, two AND gates and one OR gate. It is described by the Boolean expression
    begin mathsize 12px style text Y= end text AB with bar on top plus AB with bar on top end style
    The XOR gate is also known as the difference gate because its output is high when the inputs are different.

  • Integrated circuits: The concept of fabricating an entire circuit (consisting of many passive components such as R and C and active devices such as a diode and transistor) on a small single block (or chip) of a semiconductor has revolutionised electronics technology. Such a circuit is known as an integrated circuit (IC).

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NEET - Physics
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