Which of the statements is true for p-type semiconductors?

Options

A. Electrons are majority carriers and trivalent atoms are the dopants.
B. Electrons are minority carriers and pentavalent atoms are the dopants.
C. Holes are minority carriers and pentavalent atoms are the dopants.
D. Holes are majority carriers and trivalent atoms are the dopants.

Explanation

To determine which statements are true for p-type semiconductors, we need to analyze the properties and characteristics of p-type semiconductors step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of p-type Semiconductor**:
- A p-type semiconductor is formed when a semiconductor material, typically silicon (Si), is doped with an element that has fewer valence electrons than silicon. Silicon has four valence electrons, so we need to introduce a trivalent element (with three valence electrons) to create holes.

2. **Understanding Holes and Electrons**:
- In a p-type semiconductor, the introduction of trivalent atoms (like boron) creates "holes" in the crystal lattice. A hole is essentially the absence of an electron, and it behaves as a positive charge carrier.
- In p-type semiconductors, holes are the majority carriers, while electrons are the minority carriers.

3. **Analyzing the Statements**:
- If the statements provided in the question include:
- Electrons are majority carriers (False)
- Holes are majority carriers (True)
- Electrons are minority carriers (True)
- Trivalent atoms are the dopants (True)
- Based on our understanding, we can conclude that:
- **Statement 1**: False (Electrons are minority carriers)
- **Statement 2**: True (Holes are majority carriers)
- **Statement 3**: True (Electrons are minority carriers)
- **Statement 4**: True (Trivalent atoms are the dopants)

4. **Conclusion**:
- The true statements regarding p-type semiconductors are that holes are the majority carriers, and trivalent atoms are used as dopants.

### Final Answer:
The true statements for p-type semiconductors are:
- Holes are the majority carriers.
- Trivalent atoms are the dopants.