Unit Ii Semiconductor Physics PDF
Unit Ii Semiconductor Physics PDF
Unit Ii Semiconductor Physics PDF
net
SEMICONDUCTING MATERIALS
1 Introduction
1.1. Properties of Semiconducting materials
1.2. Elemental and Compound semiconductors
2 Intrinsic Semiconductors – Electrons and Holes
3 Carrier Concentration in an Intrinsic Semiconductor
3.1. Density of Electrons
3.2. Density of Holes
3.3. Density of intrinsic Carrier Concentration
3.4. Fermi Energy Level
3.5. Electrical Conductivity
3.6. Determination of Band gap in intrinsic semiconductor
4 Extrinsic Semiconductor
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4.1. n- type Semiconductor
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4.2. p- type Semiconductor
5 Carrier Concentration and Fermi level Calculation in n- type Semiconductor
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5.1. Fermi energy level
5.2. Density of electron Concentration
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5.3. Electrical Conductivity
5.4. Variation of carrier concentration with temperature in n – type
semiconductor
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8 Hall Effect
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8.1. Statement
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8.2. Theory
8.3. Calculation of Hall Coefficient
8.4. Applications of Hall Effect
1 INTRODUCTION
Based on electrical resistance
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A semiconductor has nearly empty conduction band and almost filled valance
band with very small energy gap (≈ 1eV).
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1.1. GENERAL PROPERTIES OF SEMICONDUCTORS
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They are formed by covalent bonds.
They have an empty conduction band at 0K They have almost filled valance band
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They have small energy gap They posses crystalline structure
They have negative temperature co efficient of resistance
If the impurities are added to a semiconductor, its electrical conductivity
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The semiconductors are classified mainly into two types based on composition of
materials.
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Elemental semiconductors
Compound semiconductors
Elemental semiconductors
These semiconductors are made from a single element of fourth group elements
of the periodic table.
They are also known as indirect band gap semiconductors
Compound semiconductors
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Magnesium silicon (MgSi) Zinc oxide (ZnO)
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Zinc sulphide (ZnS)
Types of semiconductors
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Based on the purity semiconductors are classified in to the following two types.
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Intrinsic semiconductors
Extrinsic semiconductors
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Intrinsic semiconductors
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Extrinsic semiconductors
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2 INTRINSIC SEMICONDUCTORS –
ELECTRONS AND HOLES
We know that, at 0K intrinsic pure semiconductor behaves as insulator. But as
temperature increases some electron move from valance band to conduction band
as shown in fig. therefore both electrons in conduction band and holes in valance
band will contribute to electrical conductivity. Therefore the carrier concentration
(or) density of electrons (ne) and holes (nh) has to be calculated.
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3. CARRIER CONCENTRATION IN AN
INTRINSIC SEMICONDUCTOR
3.1. DENSITY OF ELECTRONS IN CONDUCTION BAND
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Substituting equation 4 & 3 in equation 1 we have Density of electrons in
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Since to move an electron from valavce band to conduction band the energy
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required is greater then 4 KBT (i.e) E –EF >>KBT (or) (E - EF) / KBT >>1
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Let us assume that E –Ec = x KBT
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Or E = Ec + x KBT pz
Differentiating we get dE = KBT. dx,
Limits: when E = Ec; x = 0
When E = ∞; x = ∞
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Limits are 0 to ∞
Equation 6 can be written as
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(i.e) 80% chance of finding an electron in valance band and 20% chance of
finding a hole in valance band.
Let the maximum energy in valance band be Ev and the minimum energy be -∞.
Theref density of hole in valance band nh is given by
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3.3. DENSITY OF INTRINSIC CARRIER CONCENTRATION
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(i.e) the Fermi energy level lies in the midway between Ec and Ev as shown fig
(since at 0K, T = 0).
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But in actual case m*h m*e and the Fermi energy level slightly increases with
increase in temperature as shown in fig.
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Mobility
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namely electrons and holes attain drift velocity Vd. The drift velocity attained by
the charge carrier is proportional to electric field strength E.
(i.e) Vd α E
Vd = μ E
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The electron and hole nobilities are denoted by the symbols μe and μh .
3.5.ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY
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On the basis of free electron theory of solids, the electrical conductivity of metal
is given by
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σ =μ ne ----(1) pz
Using the equation 1, the electrical conductivity of a semiconductor due to
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electrons in the conduction band is given by
σe = n e e μ e -----(2)
Where n e is the number of electrons per unit volume; e is the charge of an electron
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where n h - is the hole density in the valance band; e - is the charge of a hole
μh –is the hole mobility
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Therefore the total electrical conductivit conductivities due to electrons and holes.
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σi = σ e + σ h ---------(4)
Substituting equations 2& 3 in the equation 4,
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We have pz
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σi = e[ n i μe + n i μh]
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Thus, the electrical conductivity depends upon the negative exponential of the
forbidden energy gap Eg and on the motilities’ of both electron and holes.
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Slope = Eg / 2k
Eg = 2k X slope ----(7)
From the graph slope = dy / dx
Substituting the expression for the slope in equation (7), we have
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Eg = 2k dy / dx
4 EXTRINSIC SEMICONDUCTOR
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Doping
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The addition of impurities will increase the number of free electrons and
holes in a semiconductor and hence increases its electrical conductivity.
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The four valance electrons of the impurity atoms bond with four valance
electrons of the
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semiconductor atom and remaining 1 electron of the impurity atom is left free as
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shown fig.
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Since electrons are donated in this type of semiconductor the energy level of these
donated electrons is called donor energy level (Ed) as shown in fig.
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Ed is very close to conduction band and hence even at room temperature the
electrons are easily excited to conduction band. The current flow in this type of
semiconductor is due to electrons.
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4.2. P –TYPE SEMICONDUCTOR
The three valance electrons of the impurity atom pairs with three valence
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electrons of the semiconductor atom and one position of the impurity atom
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Therefore the number of holes increased with impurity atoms added to it.
Since holes are produced in excess, they are the majority charge carriers in p –
type semiconductor and electrons are the minority charge carriers.
Since the impurity can accept the electrons this energy level is called acceptor
energy level (Ea) and is present just above the valence band as shown in fig.
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Here the current conduction is mainly due to holes (holes are shifted from
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one covalent bond to anther). pz
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K, EF will lie exactly between Ec and Ed, but even at low temperature some
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electrons may go from Ed to Ec. Let us assume that Ec –EF > KBT. Then the
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Let Nd be the number of donor energy levels per cm 3 (i.e) density of state Z(Ed)
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dE. If some electrons donated from donor energy level to conduction band say
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for example if two electrons goes to conduction band then two vacant sites (holes)
will be created in Ed levels.
Thus in general we can write the density of holes in donor energy level as
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At equilibrium condition
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Equation (7) shows that, at 0K, EF will lie expertly in the midway between Ec and
Ed.
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5.3ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY
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We know that electrical conductivity in semiconductor is given by
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σn = n e e μ e +n h e μ h
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where μh=0
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σn = n e e μ e
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From the above figure it can be seen that for the same temperature, if the
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impurity atoms (i.e) doping level is increased, the electron concentration
increases and hence Fermi level increases.
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6 CARRIER CONCENTRATION AND FERMI
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For p –type at absolute zero EF will be exactly between Ea and Ev. At low
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temperature some electron from valence band fills the holes in the acceptor
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Let Na be the number of acceptor energy levels per cm 3 which has energy Ea
above valence band. If some electrons are accepted by acceptor energy levels
from the valence band, say for example
if two electrons are accepted to fill the hole sites in the acceptor levels, then two
holes will be created in the valence band as shown in fig .
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Therefore in general the electron density in the acceptor energy level can be
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written as
N(Ea) dE = Z(Ea) dE F(Ea)
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At equilibrium condition
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CONCENTRATION IN P –TYPE
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SEMICONDUCTOR
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From the figure it can be seen that for the same temperature, if the impurity atoms
(i.e) doping level is increased say Nd = 10 24atoms /m3, the hole concentration
increases and hence the Fermi level decreases.
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Therefore at low temperature the Fermi energy level may be increased up
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to the level of intrinsic energy level (Ei).
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8 HALL EFFECT:
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charge carriers and their carrier densities and is used to determine the mobility of
charge carriers.
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8.1.STATEMENT
8.2. THEORY
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Since the direction of current is from left to right the electrons moves from
right to left in X-direction as shown in fig
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Now due to magnetic field applied the electron moves towards downward
direction with velocity v and cause negative charge to accumulate at face (1) of
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-e EH = - Bev
EH = Bv ---(3)
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We know the current density Jx in the X- direction is
Jx = -ne ev
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v = - Jx / ne e ---(4)
Substituting equation (4) in equation (3) we get
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EH = - B Jx / ne e ----(5)
EH = RH . Jx . B ----(6)
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direction.
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Let us consider a p –type semiconducting material for which the current is passed
along X – direction from left to right and magnetic field is applied along Z –
direction as shown in fig. since the direction of current is from left to right, the
holes will also move in the same direction as shown in fig.
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Now due to magnetic field applied the holes moves towards downward direction
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with velocity v and accumulates at the face (1). A potential difference is
established between face (1) and (2) in the positive Y - direction.
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EH = B Jx / nh e
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EH = RH . Jx . B
If the thickness of the sample is t and the voltage developed is VH, then
Hall voltage VH = EH .t ---((13))
Substituting equation (6 )in equation (13), we have
VH = RH Jx B .t ----(14)
If b is the width of the sample then
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Current density = Jx = Ix / bt -----(15)
Substituting equation (15) in equation (14) we get
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The above expression is valid only for conductors where the velocity is
taken as the drift velocity.
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Substituting equation (3) in equation (2) we get
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This sample is placed in between two poles of an electro magnet such that
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Due to Hall Effect, Hall voltage (VH) is developed in the sample. This voltage
measured by fixing two probes at the centers of the bottom and top faces faces of
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the sample. By measuring Hall voltage, Hall coefficient is determined from the
formula
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It is used to design magnetic flux meters and multipliers on the basis of Hall
voltage. It is used to find the power flow in an electromagnetic wave.
SOLVED PROBLEMS
1.Calculate the intrinsic concentration of charge carriers at 300 K given that
m *e =0.12m o ,m *h =0.28mo and the value of brand gap = 0.67 eV. Solution:
Given:
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2.The intrinsic carrier density is 1.5 × 1016 m–3. If the mobility of electron and
hole are 0.13 and 0.05 m2 V–1 s–1, calculate the conductivity.
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4.The Hall coefficient of certain silicon specimen was found to be –7.35 × 10–
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5 m3 C–1 from 100 to 400 K. Determine the nature of the semiconductor. If the
conductivity was found to be 200 –1 m–1. Calculate the density and mobility of
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Solution:
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/m3. The electron and hole mobility are 0.4 and 0.2 m2 v–1 s–1 respectively.
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conductivity is 108 –1 m–1. Calculate its charge carrier density ‘ne’and electron
mobility at room temperature.
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Solution:
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Given:
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8. For an intrinsic Semiconductor with a band gap of 0.7 eV, determine the
position of EF at T = 300 K if m*h = 6m*e.
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Solution:
Given:
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electron and hole mobilities are 0.4 and 0.2 m2V–1 s–1 respectively. Calculate
the conductivity.
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Solution:
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13. The electron mobility and hole mobility in Si are 0.135 m2 V–1 s–1 and 0.048
m2 V–1 s–1 respectively at room temperature. If the carrier concentration is
1.5 × 1016 m–3. Calculate the resistivity of Si at room temperature.
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ASSIGNMENT PROBLEMS
1. Find the resistance of an intrinsic germanium rod 1 cm long, 1mm wide and
1mm thick at 300 K. the intrinsic carrier density is 2.5 × 10 19 / m–3 at 300 K
and the mobility of electron and hole are 0.39 and 0.19 m2 V–1 S–1. (Ans: 4.31
× 103)
Calculate the position of Fermi level EF and the conductivity at 300 K for
germanium crystal containing 5 × 1022 arsenic atoms / m3. Also calculate the
conductivity if the mobility of the electron is 0.39 m2 V–1 S–1.
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The intrinsic carrier density at room temperature in Ge is 2.37 × 1019 m3. If the
electron and hole motilities are 0.38 and 0.18 m2 V1 S1 respectively, calculate
the resistivity.
(Ans : 0471 m)
5. For silicon semiconductor with band gap1.12 eV, determine the position of
the Fermi level at 300 K, if m*e 0.12m0 and m*h0.28m0 (Ans : 0.576 eV)
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For an intrinsic semiconductor with gap width Eg = 0.7 eV, calculate the
concentration of intrinsic charge carriers at 300 K assuming that m*e m*h m0 .
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(Ans : 33.49 × 1018 / m3)
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A silicon plate of thickness 1mm, breadth 10mm, and length 100mm is placed
magnetic field of 0.5 wb/m2 acting perpendicular to its thickness. If A 10–
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2 current flows along its length, calculate the Hall voltage developed if the
Hall coefficient is 3.66 × 10–4 m3 / coulomb. (Ans : 3.7 × 106 C–1 m3)
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conductivity is 108 ohm–1 m–1. Calculate its charge carrier density and electron
mobility at room temperature. (Ans : 0.038 m2 V–1 S–1)
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