Question

What is the value of the energy gap in semiconductors?

Answer 1

Semiconductor:

1. A crystalline solid material called a semiconductor has an electrical conductivity that falls between that of a conductor and that of an insulator.
2. Some examples of semiconductors are germanium, silicon, etc,
3. In solids, energy bands are defined as the number of atoms that are in close proximity to one another and the number of electrons that interact with one another.
4. They are further classified into three types i.e. Valence band, Conduction band, and energy gap.
5. Valence band is essentially described as the energy band made up of valence electrons found in an atomic structure's outermost shell.
6. When given enough energy, these valence electrons transform into free electrons and travel to the conduction band, which results in conductivity.
7. The band with conduction electrons and the lowest occupied energy is known as the conduction band.
8. The energy gap in a crystalline solid is the difference in energy between the electrons' conduction band bottom and valence band.
9. The energy gap in semiconductors is relatively small.
10. Its value is $2\mathrm{eV}$ to $3\mathrm{eV}$
11. That's why with a little amount of doping, semiconductors are easy to convert into conductors.

Therefore, the value of the energy gap in semiconductors is $2\mathrm{eV}$ to$3\mathrm{eV}$.