Donor and Acceptor Levels

In semiconductors, donor and acceptor levels are energy states within the material’s band gap that influence electrical conductivity. A donor level is a nearby energy state introduced by impurities that can easily donate electrons to the conduction band, making the material negatively charged (n-type). An acceptor level is an energy state that can accept electrons from the valence band, creating holes and making the material positively charged (p-type). These impurity levels facilitate the flow of electricity by providing or accepting charge carriers, enabling the semiconductor to conduct electricity more effectively.