What is a semiconductor? Distinguish between a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor.

Here are the solutions to the questions:

1. a) i) What is a semiconductor?
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. Its conductivity can be significantly altered by temperature or by adding impurities (doping).

1. a) ii) Distinguish between a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor.

• p-type semiconductor: Created by doping a pure semiconductor with trivalent impurities (e.g., boron), resulting in a majority of holes (electron vacancies) as charge carriers.
• n-type semiconductor: Created by doping a pure semiconductor with pentavalent impurities (e.g., phosphorus), resulting in a majority of free electrons as charge carriers.

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