Review of quantum physics and electrons in solids that is relevant to the physics of semiconductors; Classification of materials as conductors, insulators or semiconductors; Crystal structure of common semiconductors; Energy band model of semiconductors, effective mass; The hole concept; Density of states function; Electron statistics; Fermi level and Fermi function; Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors; Calculation of electron and hole densities and the Fermi level in each case, charge transport, drift, diffusion, mobility; Temperature and effective mass dependence of Fermi level; The p-n junction diode, formation of a barrier, contact potential, space charge region, biasing of a junction, current flow in p-n junction, drift and diffusion currents, Fermi level, derivation of Shockley diode equation, Junction rectifiers; Fabrication of practical p-n junction diodes: alloying, diffusion, ion implantation, photoengraving; Introduction to electron transport phenomena, Boltzmann transport equation, Hall effect in metals and semiconductors; Bipolar transistor: fundamentals of bipolar transistor operation, current flow in a typical device, input and output characteristics of the bipolar transistors, figure of merit of such devices; Brief introduction of LED, LDR, solar cells, tunnel diodes, MOST and CCD devices.
