www.charis-ancha.blogspot.

com
2009-2010
Physics Lab Observation – BAND GAP OF SEMICONDUCTOR

Mr. A.CHARIS ISRAEL. M.Sc., B.Ed., (Ph.D.)

Asst. Professor of PHYSICS
Department of Applied Sciences & Humanities
Mobile: +91-9269680853, +91-9571054586, +91-9866934653

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2009-2010
Physics Lab Observation – BAND GAP OF SEMICONDUCTOR

Exp. No. 4 BAND GAP OF A SEMI-CONDUCTOR

Date:
Aim: To study the variation of semiconductor resistance with temperature and hence determine the
Band Gap of semiconductor in the form of reverse biased P-N junction diode.
Apparatus: Oven, thermometer, Voltmeter (0 - 20V), micro-ammeter (0 – 50 µ A ), p-n junction
diode (Germanium), connecting wires.
Formulae:
(1) The saturation current flowing through the p-n junction diode in reverse biased
condition is
 103 
log10 I S = log10 I − 5.036 Eg  
 T 
Where ‘IS’ is the saturation current flowing through the p-n junction of the diode,
‘A’ is a constant,
‘Eg’ is the energy band gap of the given semiconductor in the form of a diode,
‘T’ is the absolute temperature of the junction.
The above formula is in the form of a straight line, whose slope is given by
Slope = 5.036 Eg
103
(2) If log I S is taken on Y-axis and is taken on X-axis, a straight is obtained whose
T
d log10 I S
slope can be calculated by Slope =
 103 
d 
 T 
(3) The energy band gap of the given semi-conductor is given by
Slope
Eg = eV
5.036

Circuit:

Heating Oven
A K µA

Power Supply

Model Graph: A graph is drawn between log I S

103
taken on Y-axis and taken on X-axis. A Straight
T
line is obtained as shown in the fig. below.
d log10 I S
Slope = log10 I S
d (103 T )

 1 0 3

 
 T 

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Hope you drop comments and suggestions at charisisrael@gmail.com. All the Best. for R T U
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2009-2010
Physics Lab Observation – BAND GAP OF SEMICONDUCTOR

Observations:

Temp. Temp. 103 Current log10 I S

S. ‘T’ ‘T’ T I S in µ A
No in in Per
degree Kelvin Kelvin 5V 10V 15V 5V 10V 15V
Celsius

1 85

2 80

3 75

4 70

5 65

6 60

7 55

8 50

9 45

10 40

_______________________________________________________________________________
Rough Work:

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2009-2010
Physics Lab Observation – BAND GAP OF SEMICONDUCTOR

Calculations:

From graph,

a) For 5V:
d log10 I S = _________ .

 103 
d  = _________ .
 T 
d log10 I S
Slope = = ________ .
d (103 T )

Slope
Eg = eV = __________ eV .
5.036

b) For 10V:

d log10 I S = _________ .

 103 
d  = _________ .
 T 
d log10 I S
Slope = = ________ .
d (103 T )
Slope
Eg = eV = __________ eV .
5.036

c) For 15V:
d log10 I S = _________ .

 103 
d  = _________ .
 T 

d log10 I S
Slope = = ________ .
d (103 T )

Slope
Eg = eV = __________ eV .
5.036

Result: The band gap of a semiconductor p-n junction diode is given by E g = _______ eV .

www.charis-ancha.blogspot.com. These files are created keeping in mind “my Students” who trust me. PHYSICS – I
Hope you drop comments and suggestions at charisisrael@gmail.com. All the Best. for R T U