Atomic Structure
Atomic Structure
48
Atomic Structure
4.1
4.2
Energy Levels
4.3
Energy Bands
4.4
4.5
4.6
Silicon
INTR
ODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Atomic Structure
49
(ii) The electrons can revolve around the nucleus only in certain
permitted orbits i.e. orbits of certain radii are allowed.
(iii) The electrons in each permitted orbit have a certain fixed amount
of energy. The larger the orbit (i.e. larger radius), the greater is the energy of electrons.
(iv) If an electron is given additional energy (e.g. heat, light etc.), it
is lifted to the higher orbit. The atom is said to be in a state of excitation.
This state does not last long, because the electron soon falls back to the
original lower orbit. As it falls, it gives back the acquired energy in the
form of heat, light or other radiations.
Fig. 4.1 shows the structure of silicon atom. It has 14 electrons.
Neils Bohr (1885-1962)
Two electrons revolve in the first orbit, 8 in the second orbit and 4 in the
third orbit. The first, second, third orbits etc. are also known as K, L, M orbits respectively.
These electrons can revolve only in permitted orbits (i.e. orbits of *radii r1, r2 and r3) and not in
any arbitrary orbit. Thus, all radii between r1 and r2 or between r2 and r3 are forbidden. Each orbit
has fixed amount of energy associated with it. If an electron in the first orbit is to be lifted to the
second orbit, just the **right amount of energy should be supplied to it. When this electron jumps
from the second orbit to first, it will give back the acquired energy in the form of electromagnetic
radiations.
Fig. 4.1
50
Principles of Electronics
indicates the second energy level and so on. The larger the orbit of an electron, the greater is its
energy and higher is the energy level.
Fig. 4.2
Fig. 4.3
The concept of energy band can be easily understood by referring to Fig. 4.3. Fig. 4.3 (ii) shows
the energy levels of a single isolated atom of silicon. Each orbit of an atom has a single energy.
Therefore, an electron can have only single energy corresponding to the orbit in which it exists.
However, when the atom is in a solid, the electron in any orbit can have a range of energies. For
instance, electrons in the first orbit have slightly different energies because no two electrons in this
orbit see exactly the same charge environment. Since there are millions of first orbit electrons, the
slightly different energy levels form a band, called 1st energy band [See Fig. 4.3 (iii)]. The electrons
in the first orbit can have any energy range in this band. Similarly, second orbit electrons form second
energy band and so on.
Atomic Structure
51
52
Principles of Electronics
Atomic Structure
53
4.6 Silicon
During the infancy of electronic industry, both germanium and silicon were used in the manufacture
of semiconductor devices. As the electronic field advanced, it was realised that silicon was superior
to germanium in many respects. Since silicon is the most widely used material in the manufacture of
semiconductor devices, we shall continue to discuss the properties of this material (as compared to
germanium) as and when we get the chance.
There are 4 valence
electrons in the outer
(valence) shell.
Silicon atom
(i)
Germanium atom
(ii)
Fig. 4.8
(i) Note the atomic structure of germanium and silicon in Fig. 4.8 carefully. The valence electrons in germanium are in the fourth orbit while the valence electrons in silicon are in the third orbit;
closer to the nucleus. Therefore, the germanium valence electrons are at higher energy level than
those in silicon. This means that germanium valence electrons require smaller amount of additional
energy to escape from the atom and become free electron. What is the effect of this property? This
property makes germanium more unstable at high temperatures. This is the basic reason why silicon
is widely used as semiconductor material.
(ii) Fig. 4.9 shows the energy level/band of silicon atom. The atomic number of silicon is 14 so
that its 14 electrons are distributed in 3 orbits. Each energy level/band is associated with certain
amount of energy and is separated from the adjacent bands by energy gap. No electron can exist in
the energy gap. For an electron to jump from one orbit to the next higher orbit, external energy
Silicon atom
Fig. 4.9
Principles of Electronics
54
(e.g. heat) equal to the energy difference of the orbits must be supplied. For example, the valence
band is shown to have an energy level of 0.7 eV. The conduction band is shown to have an energy
level of 1.8 eV. Thus for an electron to jump from the valence band to the conduction band, an energy
= 1.8 0.7 = 1.1 eV must be supplied. As you will see, the energy band description of substances is very
important in understanding many fields of science and engineering including electronics.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. The electrons in the third orbit of an atom
have ........ energy than the electrons in the
second orbit.
(i) more
(ii) less
(iii) the same
(iv) none of the above
2. When an electron jumps from higher orbit
to a lower orbit, it ........ energy.
(i) absorbs
(ii) emits
(iii) sometimes emits, sometimes absorbs
(iv) none of the above
3. Which of the following is quantized
according to Bohrs theory of atom ?
(i) linear momentum of electron
(ii) linear velocity of electron
(iii) angular momentum of electron
(iv) angular velocity of electron
4. A semiconductor has ........ band.
(i) almost empty valence
(ii) almost empty conduction
(iii) almost full conduction
(iv) none of the above
5. The electrons in the conduction band are
known as ........
(i) bound electrons (ii) valence electrons
2. (ii)
7. (iii)
3. (iii)
8. (ii)
4. (ii)
9. (iv)
5. (iii)
10. (i)
Discussion Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.