Semiconductor physics

Which correctly describes how the resistivity of an intrinsic semiconductor depends on temperature?

  1. AResistivity decreases as temperature rises
  2. BResistivity increases as temperature rises
  3. CResistivity is constant regardless of temperature
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Answer: A. Resistivity decreases as temperature rises

In an intrinsic semiconductor, the number of carriers excited from the valence band to the conduction band rises sharply with temperature, so resistivity decreases. In metals the number of carriers is nearly constant and scattering by lattice vibrations increases with temperature, so resistivity increases instead. This difference is a key feature of semiconductors.

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More Semiconductor physics questions

  1. In a semiconductor in thermal equilibrium, what is the product of electron density n and hole density p (n×p)? (ni: intrinsic carrier density)
  2. What causes a diffusion current to flow in a semiconductor?
  3. Which is a typical factor that shortens the minority carrier lifetime in silicon?
  4. What is the crystal structure of single-crystal silicon?
  5. What is the drift velocity of electrons with a mobility of 1000 cm²/V·s in an electric field of 100 V/cm?