Band structures in different types of solids Although electronic band structures are usually associated with crystalline materials,

crystalline and amorphous solids may also exhibit band structures. However, the periodic nature and symmetrical properties of crystalline materials makes it much easier to examine the band structures of these materials theoretically. In addition, the well-defined symmetry axes of crystalline materials make it possible to determine the dispersion relationship between the momentum (a 3-dimension vector quantity) and energy of a material. As a result, virtually all of the existing theoretical work on the electronic band structure of solids has focused on crystalline materials.

Energy band diagram: The range of energies that an electron may possess in an atom is known as the energy band. Three important energy bands are, Valence band Conduction band Forbidden band

Figure 1

Valence band: The range of energy possess by valence electrons known as valence Bands

Conduction band: The valence electrons are less tightly bound with the nucleus. So that even an application of small electric field some of the valence electrons detached from the nucleus and it becomes free electrons. These fee electrons are responsible for the conduction of current in good conductors. The electrons are also called conduction electrons. The Range of energy posed by the electrons is known as conduction band.

Forbidden Band (or) energy Gap: The energy band in between the condition band and the valence band is called forbidden band.

(a) Insulators In an insulator the energy gap between the valence band and the conduction band is much larger and a large amount of energy would be needed for electrons to jump into the conduction band. For this reason there are far fewer electrons in the conduction band of an insulator than that of a semiconductor.

(b) Conductors The materials in which conduction and valence bands overlap as shown in figure are called conductors. The overlapping indicates a large numbers of electrons available for conduction. Hence the application of a small amount of voltage results a large amount of current. (c) Semiconductors The materials in which conduction and valence bands are separated by a small energy gap as shown in figure 1 are called semiconductors. Silicon and germanium are the commonly used semiconductors. A small energy gap means that a small amount of energy is required to free the electron by moving them from the valence band in to the conduction band.

Electronic bands structure In solid-state physics, the electronic band structure (or simply band structure) of a solid describes those ranges of energy, called energy bands, that an electron within the solid may have ("allowed bands"), and ranges of energy called band gaps ("forbidden bands"), which it may not have. Band theory models the behaviour of electrons in solids by postulating the existence of energy bands. It successfully uses a material's band structure to explain many physical properties of solids, such as electrical resistivity and optical absorption. Bands may also be viewed as the large-scale limit of molecular orbital theory. A solid creates a large number of closely spaced molecular orbitals, which appear as a band. Band structure derives from the dynamical theory of diffraction of the quantum mechanical electron waves in a periodic crystal lattice with a specific crystal system and Brava is lattice.

Why bands occur in materials The electrons of a single isolated atom occupy atomic orbitals, which form a discrete set of energy levels. If several atoms are brought together into a molecule, their atomic orbitals split, as in a coupled oscillation. This produces a number of molecular orbitals proportional to the number of atoms. When a large number of atoms (of order 1020 or more) are brought together to form a solid, the number of orbitals becomes exceedingly large. Consequently, the difference in energy between them becomes very small. Thus, in solids the levels form continuous bands of energy rather than the discrete energy levels of the atoms in isolation. However, some intervals of energy contain no orbitals, no matter how many atoms are aggregated, forming band gaps. Within an energy band, energy levels form a near continuum. First, the separation between energy levels in a solid is comparable with the energy that electrons constantly exchange with phonons (atomic vibrations). Second, it is comparable with the energy uncertainty due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, for reasonably long intervals of time. As a result, the separation between energy levels is of no consequence.

Band structures in different types of solids Although electronic band structures are usually associated with crystalline materials, quasicrystalline and amorphous solids may also exhibit band structures. However, the periodic nature and symmetrical properties of crystalline materials makes it much easier to examine the band structures of these materials theoretically. In addition, the well-defined symmetry axes of crystalline materials make it possible to determine the dispersion relationship between the momentum (a 3-dimension vector quantity) and energy of a material. As a result, virtually all of the existing theoretical work on the electronic band structure of solids has focused on crystalline materials.

Metals In a metal the conduction and valence bands overlap so electrons can easily pass into the conduction band. This means that the number density of free charge carriers will be very high.

Semiconductors In semiconductors there is a gap between the valence band and conduction band, also the valence band is completely full. If some electrons in the valence band are provided with the right level of energy they can jump the gap into the conduction band. This energy can be provided by thermal energy. However the number of free electrons in the conduction band is still much less than that of a conductor. Note some conduction can take place in the valence band provided it is not completely full. For every electron that moves into the conduction band it creates the equivalent of one mobile charge carrier in the valence band.

Electrical conductivity - Definition

Electrical conductivity is a measure of how well a material accommodates the transport of electric charge. Its SI derived unit is the siemens permetre, (A2s3m-3kg-1) (named after Werner von Siemens). It is the ratio of the current density to the electric field strength. This applies also to the electrolytic conductivity of a fluid. Conductance is an electrical phenomenon where

a material contains movable particles withth electric charge, which can carry electricity. When a difference of electrical potential is placed across a conductor, its movable charges flow, and an electric current appears. A conductor such as a metal has high conductivity, and an insulator like glass or a vacuum has low conductivity. A semiconductor has a conductivity that varies widely under different conditions, such as exposure of the material to electric fields or certain frequencies of light. Electrical conductivity is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity (1/[m]).