At least you weren't a p hole.
p–n junction
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See also:
p–n diode and
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A p–n junction. The circuit symbol is shown: the triangle corresponds to the p side.
A
p–n junction is a boundary or interface between two types of
semiconductor materials,
p-type and
n-type, inside a single
crystal of semiconductor.
The "p" (positive) side contains an excess of holes, while the "n" (negative) side contains an excess of
electrons in the outer shells of the electrically neutral
atoms there. This allows electrical current to pass through the junction only in one direction. The p-n junction is created by
doping, for example by
ion implantation,
diffusion of
dopants, or by
epitaxy (growing a layer of crystal doped with one type of dopant on top of a layer of crystal doped with another type of dopant). If two separate pieces of material were used, this would introduce a
grain boundary between the semiconductors that would severely inhibit its utility by
scattering the electrons and
holes.[
citation needed]
p–n junctions are elementary "building blocks" of
semiconductor electronic devices such as
diodes,
transistors,
solar cells,
LEDs, and
integrated circuits; they are the active sites where the electronic action of the device takes place. For example, a common type of
transistor, the
bipolar junction transistor, consists of two p–n junctions in series, in the form n–p–n or p–n–p; while a diode can be made from a single p-n junction.
A Schottky junction is a special case of a p–n junction, where metal serves the role of the p-type semiconductor.
Metal is the best semiconductor for Schottky.