Consider the statements given below.1. At absolute zero temperature, a...
At 0o C, semiconductor acts as an insulator and in an intrinsic semiconductor Fermi level just lies in mid between the valance band conduction band.
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Consider the statements given below.1. At absolute zero temperature, a...
Explanation:
The given statements are:
1. At absolute zero temperature, an intrinsic semiconductor acts as an insulator.
2. The Fermi level in an intrinsic semiconductor lies between the valence band and conduction band.
Statement 1: At absolute zero temperature, an intrinsic semiconductor acts as an insulator.
An intrinsic semiconductor is a pure semiconductor material with no impurities. At absolute zero temperature (0 Kelvin or -273.15 degrees Celsius), all thermal motion of atoms and electrons comes to a halt. In this state, the valence band is completely filled with electrons, and the conduction band is completely empty. As a result, there are no free charge carriers to conduct electricity. Therefore, an intrinsic semiconductor behaves as an insulator at absolute zero temperature.
Statement 2: The Fermi level in an intrinsic semiconductor lies between the valence band and conduction band.
The Fermi level represents the highest energy level occupied by electrons at absolute zero temperature. In an intrinsic semiconductor, the Fermi level lies exactly in the middle of the energy gap between the valence band and the conduction band. This means that at absolute zero temperature, all energy levels below the Fermi level (in the valence band) are completely filled with electrons, while all energy levels above the Fermi level (in the conduction band) are completely empty.
Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Conclusion:
At absolute zero temperature, an intrinsic semiconductor acts as an insulator because there are no free charge carriers to conduct electricity. The Fermi level in an intrinsic semiconductor lies between the valence band and conduction band, dividing the energy gap into filled and empty energy levels.
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