EMT 471

SEM I 2010/2011

EMT 471/3:
SEMICONDUCTOR PHYSICS
by
Noraini Othman
noraini_othman@unimap.edu.my
04-979 8146
019-5769 184

Lecture 2a: Energy Band Diagram, Density of States

Functions, Fermi-Dirac Distribution

Acknowledgement:This slides are largely obtained from Dr. Abdul Manaf Hashim,
UTM of the subject Microelectronics I
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Energy Bands
For two identical atoms:

When they are far apart – have same energy.

When they are brought closer:

• the orbit of each outer electrons of different atoms overlap & interact
with each other
• this interactions cause a shift in the energy levels
• in the case of two interacting atoms
split into two energy levels by
interaction between the atoms.
• as N isolated atoms is brought closer
N separate but closely space
levels are formed
• when N>>>,
an essentially continuous band of energy. This band of N
level may extend over a few eV depending on the inter"atomic spacing
of the crystal.
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• The diagram shows the formation of a Si crystal from N isolated Si

atoms.
• Inter"atomic distance decreases, 3s and 3p sub shell of N Si atoms
will interact and overlap.
• At equilibrium state, the bands will split again:
4 quantum states/atom (valence band)
4 quantum states/atom (cond. band)
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(cont.)
• At T = 0K, electrons occupy the lowest energy states:

• Thus, all states in the valence band (lower band) will be full, and all states
in the cond. band (upper band) will be empty.

• The bottom of cond. band is called EC, and the top of valence band is
called EV.

Bandgap energy Eg = (EC – EV).

•Physically, Eg defined as ‘the energy required to break a bond in the

semiconductor to free an electron to the cond. band and leave the hole
in the valence band’.

•Bandgap is one of the factors that affect the devices performance.

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Electrical conductions is solids

Energy band and the bond model

• T > 0K, breaking of covalent bond

• Generation of positive and negative charge
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E k diagram of free electrons

When no external force is applied, electron and “empty state”

distributions are symmetrical with k
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E k diagram of free electrons

• E"k diagram describes the relationship between energy and
momentum
or
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(cont.)
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(cont.)
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(cont.)
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Metals, S/C & Insulators
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Drift current

• Drift is, by definition, charged particle motion in response to an applied

electric field

• When an electric field is applied across a semiconductor, the carriers

start moving, producing a current

• The positively charged holes move with the electric field, whereas the
negatively charged electrons move against the electric field.
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(cont.)
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Density of States
Function
Definition:
• The density of available quantum states as a function of energy given
in units of number per unit energy per unit volume

Why important to know??

• To calculate the electron and hole concentrations that will be
available for conduction "
describe the I"V characteristic of device
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(cont.)

Density of states (DOS)

"The density of quantum states per unit volume of the crystal is
given by:

 A function of energy, E
 As energy decreases, the number of available quantum states also
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(cont.)
Extension to semiconductor
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Statistical Mechanics

 In dealing with large numbers of particles
only

interested in the behaviour of the group, instead of individual particle

 Likewise in a crystal, the electrical characteristics will be determined by

the statistical behaviour of a large number of electrons
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Fermi Function
 Fermi function talk about electrons statistically

 A Fermi Dirac distribution function is given by:

 Fermi function f(E) is the probability that an available energy state,

E is occupied by an electron at temperature T, under equilibrium
condition
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 for E << EF ; f(E) ≅ 1

 for E >> EF ; f(E) ≅ 0
 width of transition around EF ≅ 3kT (20% criterium)
 symmetry: f(EF + E1) = 1"f(EF " E1)
 Maxwell – Boltzmann approximation:
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(cont.)
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Temp. dependence of Fermi

Dirac distribution function:

In general, EF a function of T
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Question 1
(a)1 eV is equal to how many joules of energy?

(b) kT is equal to how many eV at 300K?

(c) Define Fermi energy

Question 2
Calculate the density of states per unit volume with energies
between 0 and 1 eV
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Question 3
Assume that EF is 0.30 eV below Ec. Determine the probability of a
states being occupied by an electron at Ec and at Ec +kT
(T=300K)