Semiconductor

An element, such as silicon, that is intermediate in electrical conductivity between conductors and insulators, through which conduction takes place by means of holes and electrons. The conductivity of a semiconductor is changed by the addition of small amounts of impurities to its crystal structure.

p-type Semiconductor

A semiconductor for which the predominant charge carriers responsible for electrical conduction are holes. Normally, acceptor impurity atoms give rise to the excess holes.

See also: Depletion Region, Extrinsic Semiconductor, Grown Junction, Hot Carrier, Indium Gallium Aluminium Nitride, Indium Gallium Arsenide, Indium Gallium Nitride, Indium Gallium Phosphide, Magnesium Sulphide, Minority Carriers, Solid State Device, Trivalent Impurity, Wafer.