What is an intrinsic semiconductor? Give two examples.

An intrinsic semiconductor is a type of semiconductor material whose electrical properties are primarily determined by its inherent atomic structure rather than external impurities. In other words, it is a pure semiconductor material with no intentional doping to modify its electrical behavior. At room temperature, intrinsic semiconductors have a balanced number of electrons and holes, making their conductivity relatively low compared to doped (extrinsic) semiconductors.

Two examples of intrinsic semiconductors are:

Silicon (Si): Silicon is one of the most widely used semiconductor materials in electronics and is the basis of most integrated circuits (ICs). In its pure form, silicon acts as an intrinsic semiconductor.

Germanium (Ge): Germanium was used extensively in the early days of electronics before silicon became more dominant. Like silicon, pure germanium also behaves as an intrinsic semiconductor.

When these intrinsic semiconductors are doped with specific impurities (such as phosphorus or boron), they become extrinsic semiconductors, and their electrical conductivity can be significantly altered for various applications in electronic devices.