Electrical engineering

Semiconductors

Carriers, diodes, a MOSFET sketch.

Basics

Bands and doping

A semiconductor has a moderate gap. n-type: extra electrons (donors); p-type: holes (acceptors). Intrinsic density is temperature-sensitive. Silicon is standard; compounds serve light and speed.

Devices

A pn diode conducts one way. An LED is recombination light; a solar cell is the reverse. A MOSFET opens a channel with gate voltage — the workhorse of logic and power.

Formulas

Diode equation (sketch)

I = I_s (e^{qV / n k T} − 1)

Ideality n≈1–2. Forward current rises exponentially.

Symbols

  • I_s saturation current
  • n ideality factor

MOSFET saturation (ideal)

I_D = (1/2) μ C_ox (W/L) (V_GS − V_th)²

Long-channel sketch. Real devices add channel-length modulation and velocity saturation.

Symbols

  • V_th threshold voltage
  • W/L width/length

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