1.

Band Gap Determination using Post Office Box

Aim
To find the band gap of the material of the given thermistor using post office box.
Apparatus Required
Thermistor, thermometer, post office box, power supply, galvanometer, insulating coil and
glass beakers.
Principle and formulae

(1) Wheatstone’s Principle for balancing a network

Of the four resistances, if three resistances are known and one is unknown, the unknown
resistance can be calculated.
(2) The band gap for semiconductors is given by,

Eg = 2k
where k = Boltzmann constant = 1.38 × 10 – 23 J /K
RT = Resistance at T K
Procedure
1. The connections are given as in the Fig. 6.1(a).1. Ten ohm resistances are taken in P
and Q.
2. Then the resistance in R is adjusted by pressing the tap key, until the deflection in the
galvanometer crosses zero reading of the galvanometer, say from left to right.
3. After finding an approximate resistance for this, two resistances in R, which differ by 1
ohm, are to be found out such that the deflections in the galvanometer for these
resistances will be on either side of zero reading of galvanometer.

4. We know RT = .This means that the resistance of the

thermistor lies between R1 and (R1+1). Then keeping the resistance in Q the same, the
resistance in P is changed to 100 ohm.
5. Again two resistances, which differ by one ohm are found out such that the deflections
in the galvanometer are on the either side of zero. Therefore the actual resistance of

thermistor will be between and .

To find the resistance of the thermistor at different temperatures

Resistance of
Temp. of the thermistor
Resistance Resistance Resistance 2.303 log10
thermistor
in P in Q in R RT
T = t+273
RT = ×R
 K K-1 ohm ohm Ohm ohm ohm

305 0.00327869 10 10 946 946 6.85348

310 0.00322581 10 10 740 740 6.60784
318 0.00314465 10 10 528 528 6.27023
328 0.00304878 10 10 400 400 5.99254
333 0.003003 10 10 360 360 5.88716
343 0.00291545 10 10 300 300 5.70481
353 0.00283286 10 10 259 259 5.29927
358 0.0027933 10 10 200 200 5.18832
363 0.00275482 10 10 179 179 5.15422
371 0.00269542 10 10 173 173 4.91354

Fig. 2.1. Post Office Box - Circuit diagram Fig. 2.2. Model
Graph

Observation
From graph, slope = (dy / dx) = 3012

Calculation
Band gap, Eg = 2k(dy / dx) = 8.313 X 10-19
 6. Then the resistance in P is made 1000 ohms keeping same 10 ohms in Q. Again, two
resistances R and (R+1) are found out such that the deflection in galvanometer changes its
direction. Then the correct resistance.

= (or)

= R+1 = 0.01R (or) 0.01(R+1)

7. Thus, the resistance of the thermistor is found out accurately to two decimals, at
room temperature. The lower value may be assumed to be R T (0.01R).

8. Then the thermistor is heated, by keeping it immersed in insulating oil. For every 10
K rise in temperature, the resistance of the thermistor is found out, (i.e) R T’s are found out.
The reading is entered in the tabular column.

Graph

A graph is drawn between in X axis and 2.303 log R T in Y axis where T is the temperature
in K and RT is the resistance of the thermistor at TK. The graph will be as shown in the Fig.6.1(a).2.

Band gap (Eg)=2k × slope of the graph = 2k × ( )

where K = Boltzman’s constant.

Result

The band gap of the material of the thermistor = 8.313 X 10 -19 eV.