Bridging Theory in Practice

Transferring Technical Knowledge to Practical Applications

Introduction to Semiconductors

Introduction to Semiconductors

C B G

Introduction to Semiconductors
Intended Audience:
Engineers with little or no semiconductor background A basic understanding of electricity is assumed

Topics Covered:
What is a semiconductor? What is a diode? What is a bipolar transistor? What is a MOSFET transistor?

Expected Time:
Approximately 1 Hour

Introduction to Semiconductors
What is a Semiconductor? What is a N-Type and a P-Type Semiconductor? What is a Diode? What is a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)? What is a Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)?

Silicon Crystal Structure

A crystal is a solid composed of atoms in a single, UNIFIED array Notice each silicon atom is connected to its four nearest neighboring silicon atoms

Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si

Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si

Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si

Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si

Sharing Electrons
Many atoms (including silicon) like to have EIGHT electrons in their outer orbit But, silicon only has FOUR outer electrons

Solution: Silicon atoms share electrons with each other

Silicon Atoms Sharing Electrons in a Crystal Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si

Semiconductor Silicon
A conductor is a material which conducts electricity easily (such as metals) An insulator is a material which is a very poor conductor of electricity (such as glass) A semiconductor (silicon) is a material which acts like an insulator, but behaves like a conductor when it is combined with other materials

Introduction to Semiconductors
What is a Semiconductor? What is a N-Type and a P-Type Semiconductor? What is a Diode? What is a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)? What is a Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)?

N-Type Silicon Charge Neutrality

Adding Phosphorous to silicon creates a semiconductor with additional mobile Negative charges (electrons) Phosphorous Phosphorous added to Silicon

+5

+5

Plus 1 Mobile Electron (-)

P-Type Silicon Charge Neutrality

Adding boron to silicon creates a semiconductor with additional mobile Positive charges (absence of electrons)

Boron

Boron added to Silicon

+3

+3

Plus 1 Mobile Hole (+)

Boron and Phosphorous Atoms in a "Sea of Silicon"

Boron Phosphorous

Introduction to Semiconductors
What is a Semiconductor? What is a N-Type and a P-Type Semiconductor? What is a Diode? What is a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)? What is a Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)?

Boron and Phosphorous Mobile Charge in a Sea of Silicon

Boron Phosphorous

Boron and Phosphorous Mobile Charge in a Sea of Silicon

Boron

Diffusing positive charge leaves behind a stationary negative charge

Boron and Phosphorous Mobile Charge in a Sea of Silicon

Boron Phosphorous

Diffusing negative charge leaves behind a stationary positive charge

Boron and Phosphorous Mobile Charge in a Sea of Silicon

Boron Phosphorous

Diode Under Forward Bias

Before the forward bias is applied
Holes Electrons

Negative

Positive

"Built In Voltage" ~ 0.7V

Diode Under Forward Bias

As the forward bias is applied, it overcomes the built in voltage and current can flow....

Negative

Positive

"Built In Voltage" ~ 0.7V 0.0V 0.1V 0.2V 0.3V 0.4V 0.5V 0.6V

0.0V 0.7V 0.6V 0.5V 0.4V 0.3V 0.2V 0.1V

Diode Under Forward Bias

As the forward bias is applied, it overcomes the built in voltage and current can flow....

P
"Built In Voltage" ~ 0.0V

0.7V

Diode Under Forward Bias

As the forward bias is applied, it overcomes the built in voltage and current can flow....
Current (I)

~0.7
Voltage (V)

Diode Under Reverse Bias

Before the reverse bias is applied
Holes Electrons

Negative

Positive

"Built In Voltage" ~ 0.7V

Diode Under Reverse Bias

As reverse bias is applied
Holes Electrons

Negative

Positive

"Built In Voltage" ~ 1.7V

1.0V

Diode Under Reverse Bias

As reverse bias is applied
Holes Electrons

Negative

Positive

"Built In Voltage" ~ 1.7V

1.0V

Ideal Diode Current-Voltage (I-V) Characteristics

P
Negative

Current (I)

Positive

Voltage (V) 0.7

Actual Diode Current-Voltage (I-V) Characteristics

Current (I)
Ideal 0.7

Actual

Voltage (V)

Diode I-V Temperature Characteristics

+125C +25C -40C

-40C +25C +125C 0.7 Voltage (V)

Current (I)

Introduction to Semiconductors
What Is a Semiconductor? What is a N-Type and a P-Type Semiconductor? What is a Diode? What is a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)? What is a Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)?

Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Formed by back-to-back n-type and p-type semiconductor regions
Negative

Negative

P-type region is very narrow

Positive

Positive

NPN Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Collector (will collect electrons)

N
Base (of operations, i.e. the control center)
Positive Negative

P
Negative Positive

N
Emitter (will emit electrons)

NPN Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Collector Current tries to flow

VCollector > VBase

Base

N
Positive Negative

VCE
Reverse Biased No Current Flows

P
Negative Positive

N
Emitter

NPN Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Collector

N
VBase > VEmitter
Base
Positive Negative

VCE

P
Negative Positive

VBE

N
Emitter

Forward Biased Current Can Flow

NPN Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

We now have an excessively large number of electrons in the base.

Collector

N
Positive Negative

Electrons near basecollector interface are pulled across creating a current.

VBase > VEmitter

Base

VCE

P
Negative Positive

VBE
Current Flows

N
Emitter

Forward Biased Current Can Flow

NPN Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Collector (will collect electrons)

N
Base (of operations, i.e. the control center)
Positive Negative

B
E

P
Negative Positive

N
Emitter (will emit electrons)

Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Invented in 1947 by: William Shockley (1910-1989) Walter Brattain (1902-1987) John Bardeen (1908-1991) Point contact transistor used a single physical contact as the base Consisted of a germanium crystal and two whiskers

Introduction to Semiconductors
What Is a Semiconductor? What is a N-Type and a P-Type Semiconductor? What is a Diode? What is a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)? What is a Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)?

Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)

True of False:
The transistor was first conceived and patented by W.Shockley, J.Bardeen, and W.Brattain at Bell Labs in the late 1940s

Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)

FALSE!
The concept of a field effect transistor was first developed and patented by J.Lilienfeld in Canada and the United States in the years 1924-1928.

In fact, the Bell Labs engineers first patent was written to reflect Lilienfelds prior work.

n-Channel MOSFET Cross Section (nMOS)

Sea of Silicon with Mobile Holes

P-Type Silicon Substrate

n-Channel MOSFET Cross Section (nMOS)

SiO2 (An Excellent Insulator)

P-Type Silicon Substrate

n-Channel MOSFET Cross Section (nMOS)

N-Type Silicon Sea of Silicon with Mobile Electrons

SiO2
N-Type Si N-Type Si

P-Type Silicon Substrate

n-Channel MOSFET Cross Section (nMOS)

Metal Contacts

SiO2
N-Type Si N-Type Si

P-Type Silicon Substrate

n-Channel MOSFET Cross Section (nMOS)

Gate (or Door) between Electrons will come source and drain from here Source Gate Electrons will Drain come out out here

SiO2
N-Type Si N-Type Si

P-Type Silicon Substrate

n-Channel MOSFET Cross Section (nMOS)

Source Gate Drain

SiO2 N-Type Si N-Type Si P-Type Silicon Substrate

Gate

Source

Drain

n-Channel MOSFET Biasing

Source Gate Drain

SiO2

N-Type Si

N-Type Si

P-Type Silicon Substrate

Back-to-Back Diodes

n-Channel MOSFET Biasing

Current wants to flow

Source

Gate = 0V

Drain

SiO2

N-Type Si

Reverse Bias No Current Flows

N-Type Si

P-Type Silicon Substrate

n-Channel MOSFET Mobile Carriers

Source Gate Drain

Above 0 degK, a few mobile electrons will exist in the substrate

SiO2

N-Type Si

N-Type Si

P-Type Silicon Substrate

Diodes Still Exist

n-Channel MOSFET Biasing

Source

Gate > 0V

Drain

SiO2

N-Type Si

N-Type Si

P-Type Silicon Substrate

n-Channel MOSFET Biasing

Current Flows

Source

Gate > 0V

Drain

SiO2

N-Type Si

N-Type Si

P-Type Silicon Substrate

Introduction to Semiconductors
What Is a Semiconductor? What is a N-Type and a P-Type Semiconductor? What is a Diode? What is a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)? What is a Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)?

Introduction to Semiconductors

C B G

Thank you!
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