Electronic – PN junction diode’s free electrons

diodeselectronpn-junction

When we look at the PN junction diode, there is always a depletion region, for which one side in negative and one side positive. The reason behind this is that the N side depletion region is positively charged because its free electrons have recombined with the p side.

My question is that if free electrons are not attached to any particular atom, then how come they leave a hole behind when they go to the P side ? aren't holes formed when the covalent bonds can accept an electron to make covalent bond with two electrons? Since these electrons were already free, they shouldn't leave a hole behind.

Best Answer

I don't think your premise is correct. When a p-type material (excess holes) joins an n-type material (excess electrons), some of these excess holes and electrons travel to the other side via diffusion and recombine with electrons and holes, respectively, on the opposite side. These electrons and holes that diffuse to the other side are then gone via recombination, depleting them. But, the p-type material has some electrons to begin with (it has excess holes), and the N-type material had some holes ( it has excess electrons), so electons become loose on the P-side (when holes diffuse the N -side) and holes become loose on the N-side (when electrons diffuse to the p-side) and they line up at the junction boundary where the charged carriers were depleted. This process achieves equilibrium when no more carriers travel across the junction.
When the junction is reverse biased, the holes in the p-type material are attracted to "negative polarity" of the voltage acrosss the junction , leaving more electrons behind at the junction. Similarly, the positive polarity on the n-side attracts the electrons on that side, leaving the holes behind at the junction. This increases the opposing electric field at the junction which further opposes the exchange of carriers between the p and n materials thus expanding this depletion region further. The holes and electrons are already there in the materials in different densities (p-type is mostly holes, but has electrons too, n-type is mostly electrons, but also has holes.