P-n Junction (Noun)
Meaning
The junction between a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor; "a p-n junction has marked rectifying characteristics".
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The p-n junction is the core component of a solar cell, responsible for converting sunlight into electrical energy.
- A p-n junction has marked rectifying characteristics, allowing it to control the flow of electrical current in a circuit.
- The creation of a p-n junction involves doping a semiconductor material with different impurities to create regions with excess electrons and holes.
- In a p-n junction, the p-type semiconductor has an excess of holes, while the n-type semiconductor has an excess of electrons, resulting in an electric field across the junction.
- The depletion region of a p-n junction can be manipulated by applying an external voltage, allowing the device to act as a switch or amplifier.