Degenerate semiconductor materials tend to act more like a metal than as a semiconductor due to high doping. (for both cases: p- and n-type degenerate semiconductors).
For instance, Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is a degenerate semiconductor, also acting as transparent conductive layer in solar cells. Because its plasma frequency is in the IR-range, it is a fairly good metallic conductor, but transparent in the visible range of the spectrum.
Can anyone give a brief explanation concerning electronic band structure of the degenerate semiconductor comparing to the metal case?
Key words-Conduction, Valence, Forbidden zones (bands)
Greetings. According to the approaches of the zone theory (see: Anselm A.I. Introduction to the theory of semiconductors, M., 1978, etc.), the main difference SC from Me (with the sample T selected) is the presence of three zones: the FZ between the VZ and the ZC (the PZ of the dielectric has large values — somewhat eV, in SC- much smaller, up to very narrow 0.1 ... 0.01 eV). In Me FZ is absent, it is the fact-only two zones (the top of the VZ is blocked by the bottom of the CZ).
See also https://bigenc.ru/physics/text/2337009
...ELEVATED SEMICONDUCTORS, semiconductors with a high concentration of charge carriers (conduction electrons and holes), whose energy distribution is described by Fermi - Dirac statistics. Fermi level in ES located either within the conduction band or the valence band, or in the immediate vicinity of the edges of these zones (at a distance of the order of kT, where k is the Boltzmann constant, T is the absolute temperature) in the forbidden zones (FZ)/ Own semiconductors (semiconductors with intrinsic conductivity due to the own electrons of the atoms of a given substance) become degenerate at high temperatures, when kT is comparable to the width of the forbidden band (zone) - FZ- already at room temperature. In impurity semiconductors (their conductivity is due to electrons and holes of impurity atoms) charge carriers become degenerate at high concentrations of donor n++ (acceptor p++) impurity. Degradation of non-equilibrium charge carriers arising, for example, when they are injected or intense optics is possible....
Best regards. PhD Nick Proskurin , Ukraine
Dear Md. Mahabub Alam Moon,
a degenerated semiconductor is a very high doped semiconductor . As a consequence the quasi fermi level lies within the band (of conductivity or valence band in the case of holes). Fermi statistics must be applied. It behaves like a metal but the origin of the carriers is extrinsic. For a 'normal' metal (like copper or silver) the Fermi level crosses the band of conductivity too but the origin of the carriers is intrinsic.
With Regard
R. Mitdank
Degenerative semiconductors still have band gap though carrier concentration is very high in compare to intrinsic semiconductor however, metals don't have any significant band gap
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Materials Science
- Materials
- Semiconductor