A dopant is an impurity atom deliberately added to a semiconductor that either contributes extra electrons or creates holes, thereby changing its conductivity. A dopant with more valence electrons than the host acts as a donor, while one with fewer acts as an acceptor. The choice of dopant determines whether the semiconductor becomes n-type or p-type.

掺杂剂是有意加入半导体中、能提供额外电子或产生空穴、从而改变其导电性的杂质原子。价电子比基体多的掺杂剂充当施主,价电子较少的则充当受主。掺杂剂的选择决定半导体成为 n 型还是 p 型。