Mass action law for semiconductor

In summary, the Mass Action Law for semiconductors is a mathematical relationship that describes the behavior of charge carriers. It is important in semiconductor physics for predicting and understanding the behavior of charge carriers in electronic devices. It is based on the Law of Mass Action in chemistry and can be affected by factors such as doping levels, temperature, and impurities. The validity of the Law can be experimentally verified by measuring the concentration of charge carriers and comparing it to the intrinsic carrier concentration.
  • #1
hak555
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For Mass action law to hold for extrinsic material in equilibrium,
If n goes up and p goes down for an N-type material then overall carrier concentration is the same (equal to ni_square). So why does an N-type material conducts better than a an intrinsic semiconductor (presumably they have same number of carriers) at room temperature?
 
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FAQ: Mass action law for semiconductor

What is the Mass Action Law for semiconductors?

The Mass Action Law for semiconductors is a mathematical relationship that describes the behavior of charge carriers (electrons and holes) in a semiconductor material. It states that the product of the concentration of electrons and holes in a semiconductor is equal to a constant value, known as the intrinsic carrier concentration, at a given temperature.

Why is the Mass Action Law important in semiconductor physics?

The Mass Action Law is important because it allows us to understand and predict the behavior of charge carriers in semiconductors, which is crucial for designing and optimizing electronic devices such as transistors and solar cells. It also helps us to determine the doping level of a semiconductor material, which affects its electronic properties.

How is the Mass Action Law related to the Law of Mass Action in chemistry?

The Mass Action Law in semiconductor physics is based on the Law of Mass Action in chemistry, which states that the rate of a chemical reaction is proportional to the product of the concentrations of the reactants. In semiconductors, the "reaction" is the generation and recombination of charge carriers, and the concentrations of electrons and holes play a similar role as the concentrations of reactants in a chemical reaction.

What factors can affect the validity of the Mass Action Law in semiconductors?

The Mass Action Law is valid under certain conditions, such as low doping levels, low temperatures, and uniform distribution of dopants in the semiconductor material. If any of these conditions are not met, the Law may not accurately describe the behavior of charge carriers in the material. Additionally, the presence of defects or impurities in the semiconductor can also affect the validity of the Mass Action Law.

How can the Mass Action Law be experimentally verified?

The Mass Action Law can be experimentally verified by measuring the concentration of electrons and holes in a semiconductor at a given temperature, and then calculating their product. This product should be equal to the intrinsic carrier concentration, which can also be determined experimentally. If the two values are not equal, it indicates that the Mass Action Law may not be valid for that particular semiconductor material under the given conditions.

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