Properties

Silicon has atomic number

14
Each atom has 14 electrons:
10 are tightly bound to the
nucleus
4 are valence electrons (crucial
for PV story).
Pure Silicon is intrinsic
semiconductor
Neither an insulator nor a
conductor
 Electrons and Holes
Electron 1 is free
It leaves a broken bond (dotted line)
and left with a positive charge (hole).
Electron 2 is free from somewhere
else.
It may jump into the vacant spot left
by 1, so that the positive charge (hole)
moves.
Motion of Electrons and holes is
random.
A pure Silicon, even in strong sunlight,
cannot generate electricity and become a
Solar Cell.
 p-Type Silicon
Boron is added
Boron has 3 valence
electrons.
The extra electron can
entice away.
Silicon doped with boron
provides plenty of free holes
(majority carriers) and few
electrons (minority carriers).
Good conductor known as
p-type.
 n-Type Silicon
Phosphorus is added
Phosphorus has 5 valence
electrons.
The extra electron can
entice away.
Silicon doped with
phosphorus provides plenty of
free electrons (majority
carriers) and few holes
(minority carriers).
Good conductor known as
n-type.
 p-n Junction

Free electrons in the n-type

material starting diffusing into
p-type side, leaving behind a
layer that is positively
charged.
Holes in the p-type material
diffuse into the n-side, leaving
behind a layer that is
negatively charged.
 p-n Junction

Near the interface, diffusion

of the two types of majority
carriers in opposite directions
across the interface, setting up a
strong electric field and
creating a potential barrier to
further flow.
Equilibrium occurs when
diffusing is offset by the
potential barrier forming
depletion region.
 Diode
Depletion region makes the p-n junction into a diode.
The external voltage V makes the p-type positive with
respect to n-type (forward bias).
If V is reversed, the potential barrier increases and a
very small dark saturation current flows (reverse bias).