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With energy band diagram ,explain the variation of fermi energy level with temperature in extrinsic semiconductor.
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IN n-TYPE SEMICONDUCTOR.

  • At 0K the fermi level E_{Fn} lies between the conduction band and the donor level.
  • As temperature increases more and more electrons shift to the conduction band leaving behind equal number of holes in the valence band. These electron hole pairs are intrinsic carriers.
  • With the increase in temperature the intrinsic carriers dominate the donors.
  • To maintain the balance of the carrier density on both sides the fermi level $E_{Fn}$ gradually shifts downwards.
  • Finally at high temperature when the donor density is almost negligible E_Fn is very close to$ E_{Fi}$.

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IN p-TYPE SEMICONDUCTOR.

  • At 0K the fermi level $E_{Fp}$ in a p-type semiconductor lies between the acceptor level and the valence band.
  • With the increase in temperature more and more holes are created in the valence band as equal number of electrons move to the conduction band.
  • As temperature increases the intrinsic holes dominate the acceptor holes.
  • Hence the number of intrinsic carriers in the conduction band and in the valence band become nearly equal at high temperature.
  • The fermi level $E_{Fp}$ gradually shifts upwards to maintain the balance of carrier density above and below it.
  • At high temperature when the acceptor density become insignificant as compared to the intrinsic density, $E_{Fp}$ is positioned very close to the intrinsic fermi level $E_{Fi}$ but little below it.

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