SEMICONDUCTOR

FREE ELECTRON, QUANTUM FREE ELECTRON & BAND WIDTH THEORY

THEORY

FREE ELECTRON THEORY:

The Theory was proposed by P. Drude in 1900 and it was extended
by H.A Lorentz in 1900.

The Theory of Free Electron was based upon the proposition that a
(metal) i.e. conductor consist of very large number of free electrons
which can move freely throughout the body of conductor.

The conductor is made due to large number of atoms join together,

the boundaries of the neighbouring atoms slightly overlap on each
other that the results into valence electrons finding continuity from
atom to atom and moves easily throughout the body of conductor.

Hence the theory is named as Free Electron Theory which means

none of them belongs to any atom in particular, but each one
belongs to the conductor to which they are confined.

Failures of Classical Free Electron Theory:

The Free Electron Theory was fully successful to explain the Electrical
and Thermal conductivities in conductors but its failed to count for a
certain experiments result.

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SEMICONDUCTOR

FREE ELECTRON, QUANTUM FREE ELECTRON & BAND WIDTH THEORY

THEORY

The Specific heat is one of the results obtained whos experimental

value was to higher then the observed value.
Free Electron Theory predicts that specific heat is independent of
temperature. Whereas experimentally it is proportional to the
temperature.

From Free Electron Theory electrical conductivity is given by,

Whereas, experimentally

1
T

This was one of the Failures of the free electron theory.

The Free Electron Theory also said that the conductivity is found
proportional to the electron concentration.

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SEMICONDUCTOR

FREE ELECTRON, QUANTUM FREE ELECTRON & BAND WIDTH THEORY

THEORY

QUANTUM FREE ELECTRON THEROY:

If a body is not in the influence of any filed or force then the body is
sad to be a free body.

The moment when the body is rest it will not have any energy, but
when the body starting starts moving or set in motion it possess a
kinetic energy.

And there are many ways exist that in which the body can be made to
acquire more energy.

In reality these energies are different, but they are very closely spaced
when they considered as solids.

Arnold Sommerfeld succeeded in overcoming many limitations of

classical free electron theory and offered Quantum Free Electron
Theory.

BAND THEORY OF SLOIDS:

The Energy Band Theory of Solids determines whether it is a conductor,
insulator or a semiconductor.

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SEMICONDUCTOR

FREE ELECTRON, QUANTUM FREE ELECTRON & BAND WIDTH THEORY

THEORY

The band theory of solids is mainly based on the Free Electron Theory
of solids. Here also the free electrons are only considered as a name
suggest.
There are single energy levels as seen in case of hydrogen atom. But when
two atoms are brought near to each other there will be profound
modification in the energy levels.

When the atoms come closer to each other these results in the
intermixing of electrons of neighbouring atoms, of course, for the valence
electrons in the outermost shells which are not strongly bounded by
nucleus.
Due to his phenomena of intermixing of atoms, the number of permissible
energy levels increases. Therefore in case of solid, instead of single energy
level associated with single atom, there will be bands of energy level. A
set of such closely spaced energy level is called an ENERGY BAND.

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