Question

When a group 13 element is added in small amounts to Ge, the material obtained is ______.

Options

• an insulator

• an n-type semiconductor

• a p-type semiconductor

• a super conductor

Answer 1

When a group 13 element is added in small amounts to Ge, the material obtained is a p-type semiconductor.

Explanation:

Ge (germanium) is a Group 14 element and a semiconductor. When a Group 13 element (like boron or aluminium) is added as a dopant, it has one less valence electron than Ge. This creates a hole (positive charge carrier) in the lattice. As a result, the doped material becomes a p-type semiconductor, where holes are the majority charge carriers.