Pure silicon has limited conductivity at ordinary temperatures. Doping adds small amounts of impurity atoms to increase the number of mobile charge carriers. N-type doping creates extra electrons as the majority carriers; p-type doping creates holes as the majority carriers.
Both materials remain electrically neutral overall—the labels describe mobile carrier populations, not a net negative or positive charge.
At a glance
| Point | N-Type Semiconductor | P-Type Semiconductor |
|---|---|---|
| Dopant type | Donor | Acceptor |
| Common Si dopants | Phosphorus, arsenic | Boron, gallium |
| Majority carrier | Electrons | Holes |
| Minority carrier | Holes | Electrons |
| Fermi level trend | Moves closer to conduction band | Moves closer to valence band |
| Net material charge | Overall neutral | Overall neutral |
N-Type Semiconductor
Semiconductor doped with donor atoms, commonly group V elements in silicon, producing extra conduction electrons.
P-Type Semiconductor
Semiconductor doped with acceptor atoms, commonly group III elements in silicon, producing mobile holes in the valence band.
What a hole means
A hole is the absence of an electron in a nearly filled valence band. As neighbouring electrons move to fill vacancies, the hole behaves mathematically like a positive mobile charge carrier.
Donor and acceptor levels
Donor impurities introduce energy levels near the conduction band, making it easier to supply electrons. Acceptor impurities introduce levels near the valence band, making it easier to create holes.
This reduces the energy required to create useful carriers compared with an intrinsic semiconductor.
The p-n junction
When p-type and n-type material meet, carriers diffuse across the junction and leave behind ionized dopants, forming a depletion region and built-in electric field. Forward/reverse bias changes this barrier, producing diode behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
Is n-type negatively charged?
No. It has more mobile electrons than holes but remains charge-neutral overall.
Are holes real particles?
They are quasiparticles/effective carriers representing missing electrons in the valence band.
Can silicon be both p-type and n-type in different regions?
Yes. Semiconductor devices are built by creating controlled regions with different doping.
Why is doping concentration important?
It controls carrier density, resistivity, junction properties and device behaviour.
Sources and further reading
KnowDifferences Editorial Team
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