Glossary
From the Photovoltaic Effect to Photoelectric Solar Cells

Semiconductors

Materials based on elements from Group IV, or Groups III and V, or Groups II and VI of the periodic table. They are characterized by the presence of a band gap and exhibit increased conductivity as temperature rises.

n-type or p-type semiconductors

Semiconductors doped with pentavalent elements (electron donors) or trivalent elements (hole donors), respectively, which thus determine the type of majority charge carriers.

pn junction

A device formed by bringing an n-type semiconductor into contact with a p-type semiconductor. The diffusion of majority charge carriers occurs in a region called the "space charge region," where an internal electric field is present.

Space-charge zone

Defined by the diffusion...