What are intrinsic semiconductors?

Intrinsic semiconductors are characterized as pure materials that possess a limited degree of conductivity. They are typically made from elements such as silicon or germanium and are not intentionally doped with impurities to alter their electrical properties. In their pure form, intrinsic semiconductors have a balanced number of charge carriers—electrons and holes—resulting from thermal excitation of electrons across the energy gap. This means that the conductivity of intrinsic semiconductors is relatively low compared to conductive materials but can be enhanced by increasing temperature, leading to more electrons getting enough energy to jump from the valence band to the conduction band.

In contrast to intrinsic semiconductors, materials that are doped with impurities have their electrical properties significantly modified, leading to extrinsic semiconductors where conductivity is greatly enhanced. Options that suggest materials that do not conduct electricity or highly conductive materials do not accurately reflect the nature of intrinsic semiconductors, as they do exhibit some limited conductivity due to the presence of thermally generated charge carriers.