PH 122 Chapter Notes - Chapter 41: Band Diagram, Fermi Energy, Fermi Level
Document Summary
Solid-state physics studies electrical conduction in materi- als. In this chapter we will scratch the surface on this topic. We will study only materials whose atoms are arranged in a repetitive three-dimensional pattern, called lattice such as the one depicted in the gure. These type of elements are called crystalline solids. Resistivity is used to classify materials in: metals, semiconductors, insulators where increases several orders of magnitude when mov- ing from metals to semiconductors to insulators. The energy band diagram ( gure) is an idealization of the electronic density in each energy level for a given material. Bands are separated by energy gaps, which indicate the energy values that are not present in the atom. In a crystallized solid each band is in turn composed by very closely spaced energy levels. The resistivity of a material is studied exciting its atoms using a potential difference across it.
