Difference Between Donor and Acceptor Impurities

The dopping process is that adds impurities to a semiconductor. Dopping is important in increasing the conductivity of the semiconductor. There is two main forms of dopping and they are donor doping and accepted dipping. Doner doping adds impurities while the accepted dopping add impurities to the accepted. Here this article give the information about the difference between donor and accepted impurities to better understand this topic.

Difference between donor and acceptor impurities:


  • Donor impurities are also known as an n-type impurity. While in acceptor impurities are secondarily known as a p-type impurity.
  • The donor impurity atom consists of a total of 5 electrons in its valence shell. While acceptor impurity atom consists of 3 electrons in its valence shell.
  • An element like phosphorus, antimony, bismuth, arsenic, etc is donor impurities. While boron, gallium, aluminum, etc are the acceptor impurity atoms.
  • Group V element of the periodic table is considered donor impurity due to the presence of extra electron. Group III element of the periodic table is considered as the acceptor impurity of fewer electrons in the valence shell. 
  • Donor impurity gives its excess electrons present in its outermost shell to the other atom of the crystal structure. While acceptor impurity when added to a semiconductor then it accepts the charge from the neighboring atom of the crystal structure.
Explore more information: