Question

Phase one: vacancy is created--what are the three ways?

Answer 1

In the context of semiconductors, vacancies are created when there is an absence of an electron. There are three ways vacancies can be created: thermal excitation, doping, and radiation.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of semiconductors, a vacancy is the absence of an electron or an electron vacancy. When another electron fills the hole, another hole is created, effectively like a positive charge able to move through the crystal. This movement of vacancies is known as electron transport.

There are three ways in which a vacancy can be created in a semiconductor:

1. Thermal excitation: At higher temperatures, some electrons gain enough energy to break free from their bonds and create vacancies.
2. Doping: Introducing impurities into the crystal lattice can create vacancies. For example, adding a dopant with fewer valence electrons than the host material can create vacancies.
3. Radiation: High-energy particles or radiation can displace atoms or electrons, creating vacancies in the process.