Question

3. Is thermoelectric emission applied in a semiconductor diode? Explain.

Answer 1

thermionic diodes were a common early form of diode, most modern diodes are some type of semiconductor diode. Materials like silicon and germanium are often used because they have no free electrons, meaning they cannot easily transmit electricity and tend to serve as insulators. However, by doping these materials their chemical properties can be altered. When doping silicon, there are two types of impurities that can be added to turn silicon into a semi-conductive material: N-type and P-type.