Semiconductors and the PN Junction Diode
The materials at the heart of modern electronics, and the simplest semiconductor device.
Semiconductors
Semiconductors (like silicon) have electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator, and can be precisely controlled by adding impurities (doping) to create p-type and n-type materials.
PN Junction Diode
Formed by joining p-type and n-type semiconductors, a diode allows current to flow easily in one direction, but blocks it in the other.
Lesson 30 of 32