What is the difference between semiconductors, conductors, and insulators depending upon their energy bands?

Metals are good conductors of electricity. Insulators are bad conductors of electricity. Similarly, semiconductor devices are partial conductors of electricity means their conductivity lies between conductors and insulators. Lets discuss about the Fermi level first. Fermi level is the energy level taken up by an electron at the temperature range of zero Kelvin. So, at the temperature of zero Kelvin the energy levels which are lower than i.e. below the Fermi level are filled completely by electrons. When we will provide energy to the electrons then they will absorb energy one by one and will excite to higher energy levels. This is clear that the electrons which are present at larger distances from the nucleus will not be much affected by the stronger nuclear forces. So, in other words we can say that these electrons are relatively free as compared to the other electrons. The classification of these materials as solids, metals and insulators is according to the positioning of the conduction as well as the valence bands. Metals: In case of metals, electrons fill the conduction band partially. The overlapping of both the bands i.e. valence and conduction band also take place. This shows that no forbidden energy gap is present. The diagram is shown below:

Those electrons which are present below the fermi level are capable of gaining energy from some outer source and can shift to the higher energy levels above the Fermi level i.e. in the conduction band. Then these electrons will behave as free electrons. Due to the presence of these free electrons the metals behave as good conductor of electricity. When small amount of electric field is applied to the metals then the electron movement will start in the direction

opposite to that of the electric field. This electron movement results in the generation of the current. Insulators: In case of insulators the forbidden energy gap is extremely high as compared to the conductors. On the other hand its valence band is fully filled with the electrons, whereas its conduction band is empty. Lets take example of diamond. The approximate value of forbidden energy gap for diamond is nearly 6eV. As we have discussed above that the valence band is filled fully with electrons. Using the concept of Paulis exclusion principle, no electrons will be free. So, electrons will not be able to reach the conduction band. Hence these materials act as insulators due to the absence of electrical conductance.

Semiconductors: In case of semiconductors the conduction band is empty and the valence band is fully filled with electrons. Like insulators, forbidden energy gap is not so large in case of semi conductors. The energy gap is very small. This energy gap is nearly of 1eV. For different products this energy gap is different. E.g. For silicon and germanium this energy gap is nearly 1.1eV and 0.72eV respectively. If the temperature will be zero Kelvin then it is impossible for the electrons to cover this energy gap of 1eV. No electron will jump to the conduction band. Hence no conductivity will take place. It is clear that at the temperature range of zero Kelvin these substances act as insulators. But if these substances are placed at room temperature then the electrons will gain some amount of thermal energy and will shift to the conduction band. When these electrons reach the conduction band then these are free to move. Then they will start showing conductivity when some electric

field is applied. In other words, we can say that at room temperature these substances will show some amount of conductivity

In case of conductor, conduction band and valence band are overlapping, n therefore electrons are very free to move. But in Semiconductors there is a bit distance between the their valence band and conduction band. When there are heated electron jump to the conduction band from the valence band but in case of Insulators there is a big distance between the conduction band and valnce band so electron can not move from valence band to the conduction band. So that's y conductors are liable to conduct electricity and the semiconductors are intermediate but Insulator do not allow electricity pass through them. Anonymous

The Difference between conductors and insulators is that conductors conduct electricity and insulators does not.On the basis of energy band theory conductors have partially filled valence band and insulators has fully filled valence band

Band Theory of Solids

Index Semiconductor concepts

A useful way to visualize the difference between conductors, insulators and semiconductors is to plot the available energies for electrons in the Semiconductors materials. Instead of having discrete energies as in the case of free atoms, the available energy states form bands. Crucial to the conduction for electronics process is whether or not there are electrons in the conduction band. In insulators the electrons in the valence band are separated by a large gap from the conduction band, in conductors like metals the valence band overlaps the conduction band, and in semiconductors there is a small enough gap between the valence and conduction bands that thermal or other excitations can bridge the gap. With such a small gap, the presence of a small percentage of a doping material can increase conductivity dramatically. An important parameter in the band theory is the Fermi level, the top of the available electron energy levels at low temperatures. The position of the Fermi level with the relation to the conduction band is a crucial factor in determining electrical properties.

Closer look at bands Band gap dependence on interatomic spacing

HyperPhysics***** Condensed Matter

R Nave

Go Back

Energy Bands for Solids

Index Semiconductor concepts Semiconductors for electronics

Click on any part of the illustration for further information.

Band theory More details on diagram HyperPhysics***** Condensed Matter

R Nave

Go Back

Energy Bands Comments

Index Semiconductor concepts Semiconductors for electronics

Band gap dependence on interatomic spacing HyperPhysics***** Condensed Matter

R Nave

Go Back

Insulator Energy Bands

Most solid substances are insulators, and in terms of the band theory of solids this implies that there is a large forbidden gap between the energies of the valence electrons and the energy at which the electrons can move freely through the material (the conduction band). Glass is an insulating material which may be transparent to visible light for reasons closely correlated with its nature as an electrical insulator. The visible light photons do not have enough quantum energy to bridge the band gap and get the electrons up to an available energy level in the conduction band. The visible properties of glass can also give some insight into the effects of "doping" on the properties of solids. A very small percentage of impurity atoms in the glass can give it color by

Index Semiconductor concepts Semiconductors for electronics

providing specific available energy levels which absorb certain colors of visible light. The ruby mineral (corundum) is aluminum oxide with a small amount (about 0.05%) of chromium which gives it its characteristic pink or red color by absorbing green and blue light. While the doping of insulators can dramatically change their optical properties, it is not enough to overcome the large band gap to make them good conductors of electricity. However, the doping of semiconductors has a much more dramatic effect on their electrical conductivity and is the basis for solid state electronics. HyperPhysics***** Condensed Matter
R Nave

Go Back

Semiconductor Energy Bands

For intrinsic semiconductors like silicon and germanium, the Fermi level is essentially halfway between the valence and conduction bands. Although no conduction occurs at 0 K, at higher temperatures a finite number of electrons can reach the conduction band and provide some current. In doped semiconductors, extra energy levels are added. The increase in conductivity with temperature can be modeled in terms of the Fermi function, which allows one to calculate the population of the conduction band. Band theory of solids Show the effect of impurities Silicon energy bands Germanium energy bands
R Nave

Index Semiconductor concepts Semiconductors for electronics

HyperPhysics***** Condensed Matter

Go Back

Conductor Energy Bands

In terms of the band theory of solids, metals are unique as good conductors of electricity. This can be seen to be a result of their valence electrons being essentially free. In the band theory, this is depicted as an overlap of the valence band and the conduction band so that at least a fraction of the valence electrons can move through the material. Index Semiconductor concepts Semiconductors for electronics

HyperPhysics***** Condensed Matter

R Nave

Go Back

Silicon Energy Bands

At finite temperatures, the number of electrons which reach the conduction band and contribute to current can be modeled by the Fermi function. That current is small compared to that in doped semiconductors under the same conditions. Index Semiconductor concepts Semiconductors for electronics

Compare to germanium
HyperPhysics***** Condensed Matter
R

Go Back

Nave

Germanium Energy Bands

At finite temperatures, the number of electrons which reach the conduction band and contribute to current can be modeled by the Fermi function. That current is small compared to that in doped semiconductors under the same conditions. Index Semiconductor concepts Semiconductors for electronics

Compare to silicon
HyperPhysics***** Condensed Matter
R Nave

Go Back

On the basis of energy band diagram, explain the difference between semiconductors, conductors and insulators. On the basis of energy band diagram, explain the difference between semiconductors, conductors and insulators.

On the basis of energy band description the semiconductors are defined as that material which has almost filled valence band and nearly empty conduction band and the energy gap is very small between them. This energy gap is called as the forbidden energy zone. This forbidden zone defines the energy needed for the valence electrons to cross from valence band to conduction band. For semiconductor materials it is very small, in the range of 1 eV. This much energy is available to the semiconductor material even at room temperature, thus a number of electrons are available as free electrons. The above figure shows the energy band diagram for semiconductors, conductors and insulators. The insulators have very large forbidden energy gap between conduction and valence band almost equal to 15eV. The conductors have overlapping conduction and valence band. This means there is almost no difference between conduction electrons and valence electrons.