How to calculate the carrier concentration

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating carrier concentrations in silicon samples doped with boron and indium. The original poster presents two questions regarding the donor concentration and the number of unionized acceptor atoms, providing specific energy levels and intrinsic carrier concentrations for silicon at 300K.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of relevant equations, such as the relationship between intrinsic carrier concentration and Fermi levels. There are inquiries about additional relations, including charge neutrality and the law of mass action. The original poster shares calculations for both questions, while others question the implications of shallow donor impurities in the context of the second question.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to solve the problems presented, with some participants providing calculations and others seeking clarification on underlying concepts. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of the results, particularly regarding the role of shallow donors in the second question.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of additional information that could influence the calculations, and there is an emphasis on stating question numbers when responding. The original poster encourages the use of specific formulas in their responses.

myousuf
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Can any please help me in solving the following two questions

Q1
A Si sample is doped with 10^16 per cm cube boron atoms and a certain
number of shallow donors. The fermi level (Ef) is 0.36 eV above Ei
(intrinsic energy level) at 300K. What is the donor concentration Nd?

For Si at 300K ni(intrinsic carrier concentration) = 1.5 x 10^10 per
cm cube




Q2
A Si sample contains 10^16 per cm cube In(indium) acceptor atoms and
a certain number of shallow donors. The In (indium) acceptor level is
0.16 eV above Ev(Valence band edge), and Ef is 0.26eV above Ev at
300K. How many in atoms in cm per cube are unionized (i.e. neutral)?

For Si at 300K ni(intrinsic carrier concentration) = 1.5 x 10^10 per
cm cube




There is no additional information available. Please state the
question number when answering and indicate any formulas used.

The following equations may prove useful

n(o) x p(o) = ni^2

n(o) = ni x e((Ef-Ei))/KT)

p(o) = ni x e((Ei-Ef)/KT)
 
Last edited:
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What have you done so far? If you want help, than you should say what you think and what you have tried.

Is there any more relations that you know of? How about "carge neutralisty condition of doped semi conductor" ? And Law of mass action?
 
This is what I have came up with so far for question number 1

using the relation n(o) = ni x e((Ef-Ei))/KT)

with Ef-Ei=0.36 x 1.6 x 10^-19 , ni=1.5 x 10^10, T=300k , K=1.38 x 10^-23

we get n(o) = 1.654 x 10^16 per cm cube

However there are 10^16 B atoms to neutralize these charges

Hence Nd = 1.654 x 10^16 - 10^16 = 6.5 x 10^15 per cm cube
 
For question number 2

unionized atoms are left at the acceptor level

Ef-Ev=0.26eV

Ea-Ev=0.16eV

Ea-Ef=0.16-0.26= -0.10eV

Using fermi-driac statistics f(E)=1/(1+e((E-Ef)/KT)))

for E=Ea,T=300 and substituting all the constants

f(E)=1/(1+e((Ea-Ef)/KT))), gives = 0.9794

However fermi driac statistics give the probability of occupance of an electron in an Energy state E. hence 0.9794 is the probability of occupance of an electron.

hole probability of occupance=1-electron probability of occupancy

hole probability of occupance of the energy state Ea = 1-0.9794 = 0.02053

unionized atoms are left at the acceptor level(Ea)

Hence, number of IN(indium) atoms left unionized = hole probability of occupancy of Energy state Ea x number of In acceptor atoms

=0.02053 x 10^16

=2.05 x 10^14
 
Anyway there are still questions that remain unanswered

For instance, what role does shallow donor impurities have to play in question number 2.

Any suggestions to the proposed solution above will be highly appreciated
 
Last edited:

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