At temperature of absolute zero an intrinsic semiconductor is

Options

A. an insulator
B. a p-type semiconductor
C. a n-type semiconductor
D. a conductor

Answer

To solve the question regarding the behavior of an intrinsic semiconductor at absolute zero temperature, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Concept of Intrinsic Semiconductors**:
- An intrinsic semiconductor is a pure semiconductor without any significant dopant atoms present. Its electrical properties are determined by the semiconductor material itself.

2. **Consider the Temperature**:
- At absolute zero (0 Kelvin), all thermal motion of particles is minimized. This means that the electrons in the semiconductor will occupy the lowest energy states.

3. **Energy Bands in Semiconductors**:
- In semiconductors, there are two main energy bands: the valence band and the conduction band. The valence band is filled with electrons, while the conduction band is where electrons can move freely and conduct electricity.

4. **Forbidden Energy Gap**:
- The energy gap (forbidden gap) between the valence band and the conduction band in intrinsic semiconductors is typically around 1 to 3 electron volts (eV). At absolute zero, electrons do not have enough thermal energy to jump from the valence band to the conduction band.

5. **Behavior at Absolute Zero**:
- Since there are no electrons in the conduction band at absolute zero (because they cannot gain the energy needed to jump the forbidden gap), the intrinsic semiconductor behaves like an insulator.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, at a temperature of absolute zero, an intrinsic semiconductor behaves as an insulator due to the lack of free charge carriers in the conduction band.

### Final Answer:
At a temperature of absolute zero, an intrinsic semiconductor behaves like an insulator.