Definition
The energy difference between the top of a material's valence band and the bottom of its conduction band; it is a fundamental property that strongly influences carrier generation, electrical conduction and optical absorption.
Application
Used to compare semiconductor materials, estimate intrinsic carrier behavior, select materials for power and optoelectronic devices, and understand why wide-bandgap materials such as SiC and GaN can tolerate higher electric fields than silicon.
Related search terms
Energy band gap; semiconductor band gap
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Related concepts
Evidence and further reading
- Evidence from nvlpubs.nist.govhttps://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nbsspecialpublication400-4.pdf
- Evidence from research.ibm.comhttps://research.ibm.com/publications/bandgap-engineering-of-two-dimensional-semiconductor-materials