Consumer electronic devices are made from materials that we have been using for more than 60 years, mainly silicon, germanium ...

This leaves one silicon atom with a vacant location in its outer shell, called a "hole," that readily accepts an electron. Because the charge carriers are holes, p-type silicon is said to have a ...

The p-type silicon is produced by adding atoms—such as boron or gallium—that have one less electron in their outer energy level than does silicon. Because boron has one less electron than is required ...