Explain why a semi conductor acts as an insulator at 0K.
In an intrinsic semiconductor the number of free carriers i.e. holes and electrons is very less at room temperature. At any temperature above absolute zero, there will be some electrons which are excited across the band gap into the conduction band and which can support current flow. While at absolute zero, the band gap (also called forbidden gap) is large and no free electron is present to conduct electricity.