Theoretical background

• A band structure is a 2D representation of the energies of the crystal orbitals in a crystalline

material.
• Band structure of a semiconductor gives the energy of the electrons is called a "band diagram".
• The lower energy level of a semiconductor is called the "valence band" (E V) and the energy level
at which an electron can be considered free is called the "conduction band" (E C).
•  The band gap is the minimum change in energy required to excite the electron so that it can
participate in conduction.
• The excitation of an electron to the conduction band leaves behind an empty space for an electron.
An electron from a neighboring atom can move into this empty space.
• The continual movement of the space for an electron, called a "hole", can be illustrated as the
movement of a positively charged particle through the crystal structure.
• A band structure plot can quickly reveal whether a material is metallic, semi-metallic, or insulating
Band Structure of Intrinsic semiconductor
• The picture shows the Energy Band diagram of
Intrinsic semiconductor at 0K and above
temperature above 0K.

• At any temperature the number of electron

available in the conduction band is equal to the
number of holes found in valence bands.

• The Fermi-level in an intrinsic semiconductor

is nearly midway between the conductive and
valence band.

• The Forbidden Energy gap for Ga is 0.72eV and for

Si is 1.1eV.
Band Diagram of N-type Semiconductor
• In n type semiconductors pentavalent impurity is
added. It is called donor impurity. Electrons in
conduction band come from two different ways by
donor atoms and by intrinsic process. Majority current
carriers are electrons and minority carriers are holes.

• Addition of impurity adds an allowed donor energy

level at a very small distance below the conduction
band.

• As there are many free electrons in conduction band,

the fermi level gets shifted towards the conduction
band.

• At 0K fermi level is in between the bottom of

conduction band and donor level.
Band Diagram of P-type Semiconductor
• If trivalent impurity is added to intrinsic
semiconductor, it becomes p-type. The impurity
added is called as acceptor impurity.

• Majority current carriers are holes and minority

carriers are electrons.

• The addition of this impurity adds an allowed

acceptor energy level at very small distance above the
top of the valance band as shown.

• As there are many free holes in valance band, the

fermi level gets shifted towards the valance band.

• At 0K fermi level is in between the top of valance

band and acceptor level.
References
[1] https://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/pn-junctions/band-gap
[2] Leo K. Lamontagne (December 2019) “Band Structures and the Meaning of the Wave Vector k”. Available
-https://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/
[3] https://byjus.com/physics/intrinsic-semiconductors/