Semiconducting Devices Question 33
Question: When a potential difference is applied across, the current passing through
[IIT-JEE 1999]
Options:
A) An insulator at $ 0K $ is zero
B) A semiconductor at $ 0K $ is zero
C) A metal at $ 0K $ is finite
D) A P-N diode at $ 300K $ is finite, if it is reverse biased
Show Answer
Answer:
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
At 0 K, a semiconductor becomes a perfect insulator.
Therefore at 0 K, if some potential difference is applied across an insulator or a semiconductor, current is zero.
But a conductor will become a superconductor at 0 K.
Therefore , current will be infinite.
In reverse biasing at 300 K through a P-N junction diode, a small finite current flows due to minority charge carriers.
