1 Answer
The term "PN junction" comes from the combination of two types of semiconductor materials: P-type and N-type.
When a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor are joined together, it creates a PN junction. The junction refers to the boundary between the P-type and N-type materials. At this boundary, electrons from the N-type side combine with holes from the P-type side, creating a region with no charge carriers called the depletion region. This is where important electrical properties like the ability to control current flow are formed.
So, it's called a PN junction because it's formed by joining P-type and N-type materials together.
- P-type semiconductor: This material is "positively" doped, meaning it has an excess of holes (missing electrons) that act as positive charge carriers.
- N-type semiconductor: This material is "negatively" doped, meaning it has an excess of electrons (negative charge carriers).
When a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor are joined together, it creates a PN junction. The junction refers to the boundary between the P-type and N-type materials. At this boundary, electrons from the N-type side combine with holes from the P-type side, creating a region with no charge carriers called the depletion region. This is where important electrical properties like the ability to control current flow are formed.
So, it's called a PN junction because it's formed by joining P-type and N-type materials together.