What is the difference Between Metals, Insulators, and Semiconductors on the basis of their energy bands?

Open in App

Solution

The points of differences between metals, insulators, and semiconductors are as follows:
Metal
Insulator
Semiconductor
Metals are the substances that are naturally found below the earth.
Insulators are poor conductor of heat and electricity.
A substance that holds the property of both conductor and insulators are known as semiconductors.
The conduction band in metals is either filled or partially filled while the valence band is partially empty.
The electrons move from low energy to high energy where they behave as free electrons.

The valence band is completely filled while the conduction band is partially filled.
The valence band is completely filled while the conduction band is empty in the case of semiconductors.
There is no forbidden gap in the case of metals.
As a result there is large energy gap.
This results in low gap in energy bands.

Suggest Corrections