P1 Band Theory of Solid

Deparment of Chemistry
Jahangirnagar University
Savar, Dhaka-1342
Course No. chem – 322
Course title : Selected Topics of Inorganic Chemistry (IV)
Dr. Md. Arzu Miah

Professor
Department of Chemistry
Jahangirnagar University
Savar, Dhaka-1342
Bangladesh
Cell: 01732150725.
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Chapter -1
The Band Theory of Solids
 What is Band Theory of

Solids?
 Classification of Solid Based on
Band Theory
What is Band Theory of Solids?
• This theory explains the quantum state that an electron takes

inside metal solid. Every molecule comprises of various discrete
energy levels. The way electrons behave inside a molecule is well
explained through this theory.
• In atoms, electrons are filled in respective energy orbits following
Pauli’s exclusion principle.
• In molecules, Two atomic orbitals combine together to form a

molecular orbital with two distinct energy levels.
• In solids, 1023 stacked up lines confined in a tiny space would look

like a band. Thereby forming energy continuum called energy
bands.
• This theory helps to visualise the difference between conductor,
semiconductor and an insulator by plotting available energies for
an electron in a material.
Energy Bands In Inside an atom
Consider a Sodium a atom. It comprises of 11 electrons. They fill up energy

level following Pauli’s exclusion principle
Energy levels inside a molecule made up of two
atoms
What happens when two sodium atoms very close to each other
almost forming a molecule? Now each atom cannot have the
configuration as it followed as an individual atom If they do
they will be violating Pauli’s exclusion principle and end up
with a lot of electrons of the same energy levels.
• When two atoms come very close to each other, What is going
to happen to this system? The answer is, their respective energy
bands are going to overlap on each other and transform into
what we call as Molecular orbital. That is the 1s orbit of
individual Sodium atom combines to form 1s molecular orbital.
As two atomic orbitals are overlapping, the molecular orbit
ends up having two discrete energy levels. Where the Lower
energy level is called bonding orbital and Higher energy level is
called anti-bonding orbital. This will repeat for all orbits.
Energy levels inside a molecule made up of three atoms
• Now try to picturise, what is going to happen if we

add a third sodium atom to the mix? Well, according
to the theory we learned just now. here three
atomic orbitals will be overlapping forming single
molecular orbital with three discrete energy levels.
Each molecular orbital here will inherit three energy
levels. In general, the more we add atoms, more
energy levels the molecular orbit going to have.
Energy levels inside a solid made up of Avogadro number of atoms
• Eventually, if we have an entire solid, which is made of

sodium with something like 10 23 atoms packed together, Each
molecular orbital of this solid will have now 10 23 discrete
energy levels. For better understanding purpose, Think about
drawing 1s orbital of Sodium solid block, draw lower energy
level and upper energy level and in between stack it with 10 23
energy levels! The gaps between them will be extremely small
such that, no longer we can notice individual energy levels. As
a result, It is convenient to think of it as continuous energy or
energy continuum. When we think in this way, we can call
them as energy band instead of molecular orbit.
In general, If there are n-number of atoms, then there will be n discrete
energy levelslevels
Energy in eachinside
energyaband.
solidInmade
such a up
system of n number of
of n-number of atoms,
the molecular orbitals are called as energy bands. Single 1s orbital and 2s
atoms
orbital can fit 2 electrons each. thus, the total number of electrons a 1s and
2s energy band can fit is 2n. A single 2p level can fit 6 electrons so 2p
energy band can fit is 6n electron so on and so forth.
As atoms come close to each other and eventually form a solid, They end
up forming energy continuum and we name that continuum as bands.
Within the bands, energy levels which are available are continuous. Thus,
the name of this theory without any surprise is, “The band theory of
solids”
Using this theory, we can understand how free electrons are generated
and why certain material readily have free electron available making them
a conductor and why some others don’t?
• Atoms have been seen to have discrete
energy levels.
• When a huge number of atoms are
combined to form a solid however, these
discrete energy levels are replaced by
discrete ranges of energy, or energy
bands, within which there are so many
individual allowed energy values that
within the bands the distribution can be
considered to be continuous. This idea is
seen in the following figure:
Difference between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Semiconductors
Intrinsic Semiconductor Extrinsic Semiconductor
Pure semiconductor Impure semiconductor
Density of electrons is equal to the Density of electrons is not equal to

density of holes the density of holes
Electrical conductivity is low Electrical conductivity is high
Dependence on temperature only Dependence on temperature as well

as on the amount of impurity
Trivalent impurity, pentavalent

No impurities
impurity
What is Fermi Energy?
• Named after the Physicist, Enrico Fermi, a Fermi level is the
measure of the energy of least tightly held electrons within a
solid. It is important in determining the thermal and
electrical properties of solids. It can be defined as:
• The Fermi energy is a concept in quantum mechanics usually
referring to the energy difference between the highest and
lowest occupied single-particle states in a quantum system
of non-interacting fermions at absolute zero temperature.
• The value of the Fermi level at absolute zero temperature
(−273.15 °C) is known as the Fermi energy. It is also the
maximum kinetic energy an electron can attain at 0K. Fermi
energy is constant for each solid.
What is Fermi Level?
What is Quasi-fermi energy level?
• Quasi-fermi energy level is defined as the

change in the level of Fermi level as the charge
carriers are added excessively to the
semiconductor
Value of Fermi energy for
different elements
Element Fermi Energy
eV
Li 4.74
K 2.12
Na 3.24
Cs 1.59
Rb 1.85
Ag 5.49
Cu 7.00
Be 14.3
Au 5.53
Ca 4.69
Mg 7.08
Ba 3.64
Sr 3.93
Fe 11.1
Nb 5.32
Zn 9.47
Mn 10.9
Hg 7.13
Cd 7.47
Al 11.7
Ga 10.4
In 8.63
Tl 8.15
Sn 10.2
Pb 9.47
Bi 9.90
Sb 10.9
Applications of Fermi Energy
It is one of the important concepts in quantum mechanics and

condensed matter physics. Some fermi energy applications
are given in the points below.
It is used in semiconductors and insulators.
It is used to describe insulators, metals, and semiconductors.
Fermi energy is applied in determining the electrical and

thermal characteristics of the solids.
It is also important in nuclear physics to understand the

stability of white dwarfs. White dwarfs are stars that have a
mass comparable to the Sun but have about a hundredth of
its radius.
Thanks

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Deparment of Chemistry

Dr. Md. Arzu Miah

 What is Band Theory of

• This theory explains the quantum state that an electron takes

• In molecules, Two atomic orbitals combine together to form a

• In solids, 1023 stacked up lines confined in a tiny space would look

Consider a Sodium a atom. It comprises of 11 electrons. They fill up energy

• Now try to picturise, what is going to happen if we

• Eventually, if we have an entire solid, which is made of

Intrinsic Semiconductor Extrinsic Semiconductor

Pure semiconductor Impure semiconductor

Density of electrons is equal to the Density of electrons is not equal to

Electrical conductivity is low Electrical conductivity is high

Dependence on temperature only Dependence on temperature as well

Trivalent impurity, pentavalent

• Quasi-fermi energy level is defined as the

It is one of the important concepts in quantum mechanics and

It is used to describe insulators, metals, and semiconductors.

Fermi energy is applied in determining the electrical and

It is also important in nuclear physics to understand the

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