Question

What does Band Gap mean?

Answer 1

Hint: Semiconductors are the materials which have a conductivity between conductors and insulators. Semiconductors are often compounds like gallium arsenide or pure elements, like germanium or silicon. Semiconductors have different usage in different applications. Semiconductors are preferred more than conductors.

Complete step-by-step solution:
The band gap of a semiconductor is defined as the energy gap or the amount of energy required to make an electron jump to the conduction state or conduction band where it can participate in conduction. The lower energy state of a semiconductor is named the "valence band" and therefore the energy state at which an electron is often considered free is named the "conduction band". The band gap is the energy gap in between the valence band and conduction band of a material. Therefore, the band gap is the minimum energy required to excite the electron into the conduction band so that it can act as a free charge.

Once the electron becomes excited into the conduction band, it's liberal to move about the semiconductor and participate in conduction. When an electron jumps to a conduction band then it leaves a space for an electron.. An electron from a neighboring atom can enter this empty space. This space is known as a “hole”.

Note: semiconductors are the conductors that partially conduct electricity. and that we can increase their conductivity by using various methods. The Intrinsic procedure and the extrinsic procedure. Intrinsic method is heating the semiconductor. The Extrinsic method is doping. By using this method, the conductivity of semiconductors rapidly increases. Then we prefer to use semiconductors over conductors