Interactive model — semiconductor physics

Semiconductor Conduction

A doped silicon crystal, watched at the particle level. Switch between intrinsic, n-type and p-type material to see which charge carrier does the conducting — and apply a bias to set them drifting.

Majority carrierElectrons (e⁻)
Conventional currentOff
Carriers modelled—
Electron (e⁻), negative charge
Hole (h⁺), positive charge
Donor atom (ionised, fixed +)
Acceptor atom (ionised, fixed −)
Silicon lattice atom

N-type silicon: conduction by electrons