Question

What is the effect of increasing temperature on the conductivity of a semiconductor?

Answer 1

1. As the temperature of a semiconductor increases, its electrical conductivity also increases.
2. This is because semiconductors have a small energy gap between the valence band and the conduction band. 
3. With rising temperature, thermal energy becomes sufficient to excite more electrons from the valence band into the conduction band.
4. As a result, the number of free electrons and corresponding holes increases, which enhances the movement of charge carriers within the material.
5. Higher temperatures help semiconductors by producing more mobile charge carriers, in contrast to metals, where they increase collisions and decrease conductivity. Therefore, semiconductors become better conductors of electricity at elevated temperatures.