What is P-type semiconductor?
{{complex|date=June 2023}} {{no sources|date=May 2021}} A '''p-type semiconductor''' is one of two main types of semiconductors, the other being an [[n-type semiconductor]]. The p and n stand for positively-doped and negatively-doped, respectively. When a trivalent impurity (like boron, aluminum etc.) is added to an intrinsic or pure semiconductor (silicon or germanium), it is said to be a p-type semiconductor. Trivalent impurities such as boron (B), gallium (Ga), indium (In), aluminum (Al) etc. are called acceptor impurities. Ordinary semiconductors are made of materials that do not conduct (or carry) an [[electric current]] very well but are not highly resistant to doing so either. Metalloids, such as silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), arsenic (As), and a few other elements are commonly used for the main body of semiconductors. Their bulk conductivity falls halfway between that of [[Electrical conductor|conductor]]s and [[Insulator (electricity)|insulators]] and so are called semiconductors. For an electric current to flow, [[:en:Charge_carrier|charge carriers]] have to move through a material. A p-type semiconductor has free [[Electron hole|holes]] in its crystal lattice which can move in response to an applied electric field, causing current to flow. Semiconductors are most often made from silicon. Silicon is an element with four electrons in its outer shell. To make a p-type semiconductor, extra materials like [[boron]] or [[aluminium|aluminum]] are added to the silicon. These materials have only three electrons in their outer shell. When the extra material replaces some of the silicon it leaves a hole where the fourth electron would have been if the semiconductor was pure silicon. P-type semiconductors are doped with '''acceptors''' since they can accept electrons while n-type semiconductors are doped with '''donors''' since they 'donate' the free electrons. [[P–n_junction|PN junctions]] such as diodes rely on the diffusion of electrons from N-type semiconductors to P-type semiconductors to function, only per