Question

Why does microscopic roughness prevent a proper crystal lattice from forming between separate p-type and n-type slabs?

Options

• The diffusion and drift currents become equal

• The two slabs become regions of the same semiconductor crystal

• The atoms of the two slabs do not make continuous contact

• The barrier potential decreases in forward bias

Answer 1

Microscopic roughness prevents the atoms of two separate slabs from making continuous contact. Without that contact, a proper crystal lattice cannot form across the interface.