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Chapter: 11th 12th std standard Class Physics sciense Higher secondary school College Notes

Semiconductors: Energy band in solids

Semiconductors: Energy band in solids
In the case of a single isolated atom, there are various discrete energy levels. In solids, the atoms are arranged in a systematic space lattice and each atom is influenced by neighbouring atoms. The closeness of atoms results in the intermixing of electrons of neighbouring atoms.

Semiconductors

 

It has been observed that certain materials like germanium, silicon etc. have resistivity between good conductors like copper and insulators like glass. These materials are known as semiconductors. A material which has resistivity between conductors and insulators is known as semiconductor. The resistivity of a semiconductor lie approximately between 10-2 and 104 m at room temperature. The resistance of a semiconductor decreases with increase in temperature over a particular temperature range. This behaviour is contrary to that of a metallic conductor for which the resistance increases with increase in temperature.

The elements that are classified as semiconductors are Si, Ge, In, etc. Germanium and silicon are most widely used as semiconductors.

 

Energy band in solids

In the case of a single isolated atom, there are various discrete energy levels. In solids, the atoms are arranged in a systematic space lattice and each atom is influenced by neighbouring atoms. The closeness of atoms results in the intermixing of electrons of neighbouring atoms. Due to this, number of permissible energy levels increases. Hence in the case of a solid, instead of a single energy level associated with single atom, there will be bands of energy levels. A set of such closely packed energy levels is called an energy band. The bands of energy levels are referred to the entire solid as a whole and not to the single atom.


The concept of energy bands can be understood from Fig a and Fig b. The energy levels of a single isolated  atom of silicon are shown in Fig a. Each silicon atom has 14 electrons, two of which occupy K shell, 8 occupy the L shell and 4 occupy the M shell. The electrons in the M shell are distributed as 2 electrons in the subshell 3s and 2 electrons in the subshell 3p. This subshell 3p is partially filled because it can accommodate a total of 6 electrons. The completely filled levels are known as core levels and the electrons filling these levels are called core electrons. The electrons in the outermost level are called valence electrons. The partially filled outermost level is valence level and the permitted levels which are vacant are known as conduction levels.

In a solid, there are large number of atoms, which are very close to each other. The energy of s or p level is of the order of eV, therefore the levels are very closely spaced. The first orbit electrons form a band called first energy band. Similarly second orbit electrons form second energy band and so on as shown in Fig b.


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