What is the Difference Between Degenerate and Non-degenerate Semiconductor?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Degenerate and non-degenerate semiconductors differ in terms of doping levels and their electronic properties. Here are the key differences between the two:
- Doping Levels: A degenerate semiconductor has a high level of doping, causing the material to act more like a metal than a semiconductor. On the other hand, a non-degenerate semiconductor has moderate levels of doping, with dopant atoms well separated from each other and exhibiting negligible interactions.
- Electronic Properties: In a degenerate semiconductor, the injection of electrons or holes is only possible from the Fermi energy level. In contrast, non-degenerate semiconductors can form two types of contacts with organic materials.
- Energy Band Structure: Degenerate semiconductors have very little space between the valence band edge and the conduction band edge, while non-degenerate semiconductors have a larger gap between the valence band and the conduction band.
- Temperature Dependence: Degenerate semiconductors do not obey the law of mass action, which relates intrinsic carrier concentration with temperature and bandgap. In contrast, non-degenerate semiconductors follow this law, and their increase in conductivity with temperature is a typical trait.
In summary, degenerate semiconductors are heavily doped materials that exhibit properties intermediate between semiconductors and metals, while non-degenerate semiconductors have moderate doping levels and maintain the properties of traditional semiconductors. Non-degenerate semiconductors are used in various applications, such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and many other electronic devices.
Comparative Table: Degenerate vs Non-degenerate Semiconductor
Here is a table comparing the differences between degenerate and non-degenerate semiconductors:
| Feature | Degenerate Semiconductors | Non-degenerate Semiconductors |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A semiconductor with a high level of doping, causing their functions to be similar to that of metals. | A semiconductor containing moderate levels of doping, exhibiting separate energy levels for dopant atoms with negligible interactions. |
| Doping Level | High level of doping, typically 10^16 atoms/cm^3 or higher. | Lower level of doping compared to degenerate semiconductors. |
| Fermi Energy | Fermi energy level is close to the band edge, resulting in very little space between the valence and conduction bands. | Fermi energy level is at least 3kT away from either band edge, creating a larger gap between the valence and conduction bands. |
| Conductivity | Increases with temperature due to the high level of doping. | Exhibits moderate conductivity. |
| Examples | Silicon, germanium, and silicon-germanium alloys. | Moderately doped silicon, germanium, and other semiconductor materials. |
In summary, degenerate semiconductors have a high level of doping, causing their functions to be similar to that of metals, while non-degenerate semiconductors have moderate levels of doping and exhibit separate energy levels for dopant atoms with negligible interactions.
- Semiconductor vs Metal
- Semiconductor vs Superconductor
- Conductor Semiconductor vs Insulator
- Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Semiconductor
- Hybrid vs Degenerate Orbitals
- Silicon Diode vs Germanium Diode
- Wobble vs Degeneracy
- NMOS vs PMOS
- Silicon vs Germanium
- Accidental Degeneracy vs Normal Degeneracy
- Volatile vs Nonvolatile
- Crystalline vs Noncrystalline Solids
- Ohmic vs Non Ohmic Conductors
- Schottky Defect vs Frenkel Defect
- Silicon vs Gallium-Arsenide
- BJT vs FET
- Metals vs Nonmetals
- Stoichiometric vs Nonstoichiometric Defects
- NPN vs PNP Transistor