Question

When the conductivity of a semiconductor is only due to breaking of covalent bonds, the semiconductor is called

• A. n-type
• B. p-type
• C. intrinsic
• D. extrinsic

Answer 1

The correct option is C intrinsic

At room temperature, in impure semiconductors some free charge carriers are available for conduction due to impurity atoms. But in pure, i.e., intrinsic semiconductors, $n=p$. Hence, at room temperature no free electrons are available for conduction. If the temperature is increased the covalent bonds will break and electrons will be freed, each electron will leave behind a hole and capture a new hole the process will continued and charge flows through intrinsic semiconductor. Thus, its conductivity is only due to breaking of covalent bonds.