Non-stoichiometric cuprous oxide. `Cu_(2)O` can be perpared in laboratory. In this oxide, copper-to-oxygen ratio is slightly less than 2 : 1. can you account for the fact that this substance is a p-type semiconductors?

Explanation

`Cu_(2) O` is a non-stoichimetric oxide in which the mole of `Cu` are less than 2, i.e., there is metal deficiency which create hole. Such hole can move through crystals like a positive charge giving rise to electrical conductivity. The direction of motion of the holes in an electric field is opposite to that of the electron. This behaves like p-type smiconductor in which group-13-doped crystals is silicon are called p-type semiconductors since holes (positive in charge) appear to be responsible for the semiconductors properties.