Chapter 16, Problem 1TFQ

Silicon can be doped with a trivalent material like aluminum to create an n-type material

To determine

Weather the given statement is True or False.

Answer to Problem 1TFQ

The given statement is $False$

Explanation of Solution

Given Information:

Silicon can be doped with trivalent material like aluminium to create n- type semiconductor.

Intrinsic silicon does not conduct current well like metals, since it has limited number of free electrons in the conduction band. The conductivity can be increased by adding impurity atoms of either five valence electrons (pentavalent) or three electrons(trivalent). This process is called doping.

When pentavalent impurities like arsenic, antimony etc are added the number of free electrons in the conduction band will be more. This results inn -type Silicon and here the electrons act as majority carriers.

When the silicon is doped with trivalent impurities such as Aluminium, it creates a vacancies or holes. This does not result in an n -type semiconductor as no free electrons are generated. Thus, the given statement is false.