MSE303: Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Materials

Practice Problems Set 2

Topics covered: Kronig-Penny Model, Electron Dynamics, Metals
1. Non-degenerate states in a 1-D crystal of lattice parameter a are described by = !
! cos within in 1st Brillouin zone for ! > ! > 0.
i. Plot a neat and well-annotated vs. diagram. (you may use a plotting software)
ii. From the sketch, determine where does the maximum velocity occur (no mathematics
allowed)? Give reasoning.
iii. What is the effective mass at = 0 and = /? What does the sign of effective mass tells
you?
2. Single-layer graphene can be considered a 2-D material (hexagonal 2-D lattice). Schematically draw
1st and 2nd Brillouin zones for 2-D hexagonal lattice of side length a. Search for dispersion curve of
electronic structure of graphene on the Internet and try to understand. (one such link is
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/GrapheneBrillouinZoneAndElectronicEnergyDispersion/ which
requires mathematica). Is graphene a metal, a semiconductor or an insulator?
3. Calculate Fermi energy and Fermi velocity for electrons in Ag.
4. Calculate density of states at Fermi energy for Ag.

5. Calculate electrical conductivity of Ag from Sommerfelds model and compare it to Drudes model.
Which model gives more realistic value? (Take relaxation time as 5 x10-14 sec.)
6. Calculate Fermi energy for and density of states at Fermi energy for Ba.
7. Calculate electrical conductivity for Ba according to Sommerfelds model and compare it with
electrical conductivity of Ag.

8. Keeping only electrical conductivity of metals in focus, briefly discuss how far we have come from
simplistic Drudes model to a more sophisticated model to explain electronic properties of different
materials (metals, semiconductors and insulators)