CBSE Class 12 · 2023 · SemiconductorsShort Answer

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Answer the following giving reasons.
(i) A p-n junction diode is damaged by a strong current.
(ii) Impurities are added in intrinsic semiconductors.

Solution

(i) A large current produces heating that breaks many covalent bonds, creating a flood of free carriers; the junction then conducts heavily in both directions, loses its rectifying property and may be permanently damaged.
(ii) An intrinsic semiconductor has and few carriers, giving low conductivity.
Adding a trivalent or pentavalent impurity greatly increases one kind of carrier, raising the conductivity so the material can be used to make devices.

CBSE Class 12 Board · 2023 · Subjective

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