Tag: energy bands

The energy bandgap of semiconductors tends to decrease as the temperature is increased. This behaviour can be understood if one considers that the interatomic spacing increases when the amplitude of the atomic vibrations increases due to the increased thermal energy. This effect is quantified by the linear expansion coefficient of a material. An increased interatomic spacing decreases the potential seen by the electrons in the material, which in turn reduces the size of the energy bandgap. 

The energy gaps of the given materials are given:

A band gap, also called an energy band, is an energy range in a solid where no electron states can exist. It generally refers to the energy difference (in electron volts) between the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band in insulators and semiconductors. The energy band gaps of silicon and germanium are $1.1eV $ and $0.7eV$ respectively.

When the band gap for a semiconductor is low, it means it is easy for the valance electrons to jump into conduction band i.e. less energy is required for the electrons to enter into conduction band. Hence, the resistance of the material is low and conductivity is high i.e. lesser the band gap higher is the conduction.

Semi-conductors behaves as an ideal insulator at absolute zero temperature($0K$) which is 0 Kelvin. Because at the absolute zero temperature the electrons in the valence band of semi-conductors do not posses enough thermal energy to overcome forbidden energy gap. so semi-conductors stop conducting and behaves as an insulator.

1. Orbiting electrons contains energy and are confirmed to definite energy levels.
   2. The various shells in an atom represent these levels.
   3. Therefore, to move an electron from the lower shell to a higher shell a certain amount of energy is required.
   3. Below the conduction band is the forbidden band or energy gap, electrons are never found in this band, but may travel back and forth through it, provided they do not come to rest in the band.
   4. As the electrons can also lose energy as well as receive it when an electron loses energy it moves to a lower shell.
   5. And supplying more energy than is needed will only cause the electron to move to the next higher shell.
   6. It means that an energy gap is the spacing between two orbital shells.

In case of a p-type semiconductor, the number of holes in valence band is grater then number of electrons in conduction band. hence, the probability of occupation of energy levels by the holes in valence band is greater than probability of occupation of energy levels by electrons in conduction band. This probability of occupation of energy levels is represented in terms of Fermi level.

The range of energy of the valence electrons of an atom is known as valence band. The range of energy in which an electron must exist in order to participate in the conduction of electricity is known as conduction band. The difference between the valence band and conduction band is known as band gap or energy gap. In conductors, the valence band overlaps with the conduction band. Which means, electrons are already ready for conduction and energy gap in a conductor is zero.

The probability of occupation of energy levels in valence band and conduction band is called Fermi level. As the temperature increases free electrons and holes gets generated. In intrinsic semiconductor, the number of holes in valence band is equal to the number of electrons in the conduction band. Hence, the probability of occupation of energy levels in conduction band and valence band are equal. Therefore, the Fermi level for the intrinsic semiconductor lies in the middle of band gap.

The energy gap of a semiconductor lies in between insulators and conductors. In case of conductors, band gap Eg $\sim 0$ eV. Whereas in case of insulators, Eg $\sim 3-4$ eV. So, Band gap in case of a semiconductor is of order $\sim 1$ eV.