Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Abstract:
Introduction:
The Band theory of solids proposes that the available energy states of
atoms form bands. These bands are essentially groupings of discrete energy
levels which are similar enough to allow for a variety of energetic electrons
to occupy the levels of the band.
equation R=R 0 e 2 kT
, where R is the resistivity,
R0 is an unknown constant, T is
constant.
Method:
The circuit connecting all of the above apparatus was connected and
provided a voltage. The current and voltages across the germanium sample were
recorded by hand in 5-second intervals. After 100 data points were recorded from
each voltmeter, the heater was turned off, and another set of 100 data points were
taken in 5-second intervals as the sample of germanium dropped in temperature.
Results:
The data set for the voltage across the sample was subject to the conversion
100
T ( ) =V which produced a data set of the temperature of the sample of
1.00 V
Eg /2 kT
The equation R=R 0 e , where k is the Boltzmann constant, was
Eg
manipulated to produce ln ( R )= + ln ( R0 ) . The data should produce a linear
2 kT
function such that the energy gap of germanium can be derived from the slope of
the line.
The resistivity of germanium was derived from the voltage and the current
through the sample of germanium. Thus, the natural logarithm of the resistivity of
the germanium was plotted as a function of temperature as shown in Fig. 1. This
Eg
produced a linear function. The slope of the function produced a value for 2k .
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
-1
f(x) = 4211.22x - 15.49
-2
R = 1
-3
ln(R)
-4 ln[R]
Linear (ln[R])
-5
-6
-7
1/T [k^-1]
Analysis:
Eg
The slope seen in Figure 1 is set equal to 2 k , yielding a bandgap energy
bandgap energies of germanium, which are measured to be 0.66 [eV]. Thus, there is
10% error in the accuracy of the experiment.
Discussion:
Elder 5
The results indicate that there was error of 10% in the methodology outlined
by the experiment. The error is likely a product of an unpure sample of germanium
or a lack of precision in the instrumentation. As well, the method in which data was
taken was particularly inconsistent, as each member read the data at arbitrarily
defined 5-second intervals. This is the most likely candidate for error.
Summary:
0.72 eV .0036 eV The results indicate a 10% error in the accuracy of the value.
However, given that limitations of proper methodical data recording existed, the
error is explicable and expected. The bandgap energy of germanium is a
fundamental characteristic of undoped germanium which makes it a favored
component of many semiconductor devices. As such, knowing the bandgap energy
of germanium is of significant applied importance.
References:
[2] Nave, C. (n.d.). Band Theory. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.html