Solid State Physics-I

Assignment # 1
Band Theory of Solids
Submitted To:
Dr. Hafiz Tariq Masood
Submitted By:
Muhammad Ramzan Zeshan
Roll no.
MSCPHY-E-07
Class:
M.Sc Physics (evening) 2nd Semester
Department:
Department of Physics UOSahiwal
 OBJECTIVES

• To Understand Energy Band Theory

• To understand Band Gap

• To Explain Energy Bands Of

i. Insulator
ii. Conductor
iii. Semi-Conductor
 History

• In 1927, Walter Heitler and Fritz London

discovered bands-very closely spaced orbital
with not much difference in energy

• In 1928, Felix Bloch had the idea to take the

quantum theory and apply it to solids.
 Energy Band Theory

The energy level of an isolated single atom

are well defined and usually represented as a
series of horizontal lines on an energy level
diagram.

When two identical atoms are close together,

Their electrons move under the influence of
combined E.F of the two atoms and single
energy level splits into two atoms.
 Energy Band Theory
When large number of atoms are brought
together, as in a crystal, then the energy level
of the atom splits up into ‘N’ number of sub-
levels.

These allowed energy state are discrete but are

soo closely spaced that they appear to form a
continues energy band.
Energy Band Theory
 Band Gap
There are three types of energy bands
1. Valence E.Band:
It is the highest occupied energy
band in an atom. It is either completely filled or
partially filled. This band can never be empty.

2. Conduction E.Band:
T he e ne rgy ba n d a b o v e t h e
valence energy band is called conduction energy band.
This band maybe either empty or partially filled.
 Band Gap
3. Completely filled E.Band:
The band below the valence
energy band are normally filled is called completely filled
energy band.
They do not take part in the conduction process.
Therefore, we consider valence and conduction band for
electric conductivity.
 Band Gap
The gap between Valence energy band and Conduction
energy band is known as band gap.
This gap is different for Metals, Insulator and
semiconductors.
 Insulator Energy Band
• Conduction band is empty means no free electrons.
• Valence band is completely filled. That’s why it is more
stable and doesn’t allow and electrons to escape from it.
• There is a large energy gap between valence band and
conduction band. Only those electrons can jump from it
whose energy is equal or greater than 15ev (this value can
change according to the insulator material).
 Conductor Energy Band
• Conduction band is partially filled.
• Valence band is partially filled.
• There is no gap between conduction band and valence
band. So, any electron can easily jump from valence
band to conduction band.
Semiconductor Energy Band
• Conduction band is empty.
• Valence band is completely filled.
• Band gap between valence band and conduction band is
smallest in semiconductors.
• Germanium and Silicon are the best semiconductors
because they have the lowest forbidden gap.
Semiconductor Energy Band
• At low temperature there are no electrons in the
conduction band and the valence band is completely
filled. It means at low temperature a piece of ‘Ge’ and
‘Si’ is a prefect insulator.
• With the increase in temperature some electrons gain
sufficient energy to jump from the small energy gap
from valance band to conduction band.
• Thus at room temperature ‘Ge’ and ‘Si’ becomes a
semiconductor .
Silicon Energy Band
Germanium Energy Band