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Electron Theory of Solids - PPT RF170ffd

This document provides an overview of the key topics in Unit 3 of an Applied Physics course, including: 1. The classical and quantum free electron theories of metals, which describe electron behavior using classical and quantum mechanics. 2. Concepts like mean free path, relaxation time, and drift velocity that are important for understanding electron transport. 3. The Fermi level and Fermi-Dirac distribution which describe electron energy states. 4. How electrical resistivity depends on temperature and defects based on Matthiessen's rule. 5. The band theory classification of materials as insulators, semiconductors, or conductors based on their band structure and effective mass of electrons.

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539 views

Electron Theory of Solids - PPT RF170ffd

This document provides an overview of the key topics in Unit 3 of an Applied Physics course, including: 1. The classical and quantum free electron theories of metals, which describe electron behavior using classical and quantum mechanics. 2. Concepts like mean free path, relaxation time, and drift velocity that are important for understanding electron transport. 3. The Fermi level and Fermi-Dirac distribution which describe electron energy states. 4. How electrical resistivity depends on temperature and defects based on Matthiessen's rule. 5. The band theory classification of materials as insulators, semiconductors, or conductors based on their band structure and effective mass of electrons.

Uploaded by

raks
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 24

APPLIED PHYSICS

CODE : 07A1BS05
I B.TECH
CSE, IT, ECE & EEE
UNIT-3
NO. OF SLIDES : 24

1
UNIT INDEX
UNIT-3
S.No. Module Lecture PPT Slide
No. No.
1 Introduction, Classical L1-2 4-12
free Electron
theory of metals.
2 Mean Free path, L3 13-15
Relaxation time and drift
velocity.

3 Quantum free electron L4 16


theory of metals.

4. Fermi Level, Fermi Dirac L5-6 17-18 2


Distribution
5 Electron scattering L7 19
and resistance.

6 Classification of L8 20-23
materials

7 Effective mass of L9 24
electron

3
INTRODUCTION
Lecture-1

The electron theory of solids


aims to explain the structures and
properties of solids through their
electronic structure.
The electron theory of solids has
been developed in three main
stages. 4
(i). The classical free electron theory:
Drude and Lorentz developed this theory in 1900.
According to this theory, the metals containing
free electrons obey the laws of classical
mechanics.
(ii). The Quantum free electron theory:
Sommerfeld developed this theory during 1928.
According to this theory, the free electrons obey
quantum laws.
5
(iii). The Zone theory:
Bloch stated this theory in 1928.
According to this theory, the free
electrons move in a periodic field
provided by the lattice. This theory
is also called “Band theory of solids”.

6
The classical Free Electron Theory of
Metals (Drude - Lorentz theory of metals
Lecture-2

postulates :
(a). In an atom electrons revolue around the nucleus and
a metal is composed of such atoms.
(b). The valence electrons of atoms are free to move
about the whole volume of the metals like the
molecules of a perfect gas in a container. The
collection of valence electrons
from all the atoms in a given piece of metal forms
electrons gas. It is free to move throughout the
volume of the metal

7
(c) These free electrons move in random directions and
collide with either positive ions fixed to the lattice or
other free electrons. All the collisions are elastic i.e.,
there is no loss of energy.
(d). The movements of free electrons obey the laws of
the classical kinetic theory of gases.
(e). The electron velocities in a metal obey the classical
Maxwell – Boltzmann distribution of velocities.

8
(f). The electrons move in a completely
uniform potential field due to ions fixed in
the lattice.

(g). When an electric field is applied to the


metal, the free electrons are accelerated in
the direction opposite to the direction of
applied electric field.
9
Success of classical free electron
theory:
(1). It verifies Ohm’s law.

(2). It explains the electrical and thermal conductivities


of metals.

(3). It derives Wiedemann – Franz law. (i.e., the


relation between electrical conductivity and thermal
conductivity)

(4). It explains optical properties of metalsl.


10
Drawbacks of classical free electron
theory:
1. The phenomena such a photoelectric effect,
Compton effect and the black body radiation
couldn’t be explained by classical free electron
theory.
2. According to the classical free electron theory the
value of specific heat of metals is given by 4.5Ru is
the Universal gas constant whereas the
experimental value is nearly equal to 3Ru. Also
according to this theory the value of electronic
specific heat is equal to 3/2Ru while the actual value
is about 0.01Ru only.
11
3.Electrical conductivity of semiconductor or
insulators couldn’t be explained using this
model.
4. Though K/σT is a constant (Wiedemann – Franz
Law) according to the Classical free electron
theory, it is not a constant at low temperature.
5. Ferromagnetism couldn’t be explained by this
theory. The theoretical value of paramagnetic
susceptibility is greater than the experimental
value.
12
Mean free path Lecture-3

The average distance traveled by an electron


between two successive collisions inside a
metal in the presence of applied field is known
as mean free path.

13
Relaxation Time

The time taken by the electron to


reach equilibrium position from
its disturbed position in the
presence of an electric field is
called relaxation time.

14
Drift velocity

• In the presence of electric field, in


addition to random velocity there is an
additional net velocity associated with
electrons called drift velocity.
• Due to drift velocity, the electrons with
negative charge move opposie to the
field direction.

15
Quantum free electron Theory
Lecture-4

• According to quantum theory of free


electrons energy of a free electron is given
by
• En = n2h2/8mL2
• According to quantum theory of free
electrons the electrical conductivity is given
by
• σ = ne2T/m

16
Fermi Level
Lecture-5

• “The highest energy level that can be


occupied at 0K” is called Fermi level.
• At 0K, when the metal is not under the
influence of an external field, all the levels
above the Fermi level are empty, those lying
below Fermi level are completely filled.
• Fermi energy is the energy state at which the
probability of electron occupation is ½ at any
temperature above 0k.
17
Fermi-Dirac statistics
Lecture-6

According to Fermi Dirac statistics, the


probability of electron occupation an
energy level E is given by
F(E) = 1/ 1+exp (E-EF/kT)

18
Electrical Resistivity Lecture-7
• The main factors affecting the electrical
conductivity of solids are i) temperature and ii)
defects (i.e. impurities).

• According to Matthiesens’s rule, the resistivity of


a solid is given by
ρpure= ρpure+ ρimpurity
where ρpure is temperature dependent resistivity due
to thermal vibrations of the lattice and ρimpurity is
resistivity due to scattering of electrons by
impurity atoms.
19
CLASSIFICATION OF MATERIALS
Lecture-8

• Based on ‘band theory’, solids


can be classified into three
categories, namely,
1. insulators,
2. semiconductors &
3. conductors.
20
INSULATORS

• Bad conductors of electricity


• Conduction band is empty and
valence band is full, and these band
are separated by a large forbidden
energy gap.
• The best example is Diamond with
Eg=7ev.
21
SEMI CONDUCTORS

• Forbidden gap is less


• Conduction band an d valence band are
partially filled at room temperature.
• Conductivity increases with temperature
as more and more electrons cross over
the small energy gap.
• Examples Si(1.2ev) & Ge(0.7ev)

22
CONDUCTORS

• Conduction and valence bands are


overlapped
• Abundant free electrons already exist in
the conduction band at room temperature
hence conductivity is high.
• The resistively increases with temperature
as the mobility of already existing
electrons will be reduced due to collisions.
• Metals are best examples.
23
EFFECTIVE MASS
Lecture-9

• Def : When an electron in a periodic


potential of lattice is accelerated by
an electric field or magnetic field, then
the mass of the electron is called
effective mass.
• It is denoted by m*
m* = ћ2/(d2E/dk2)
24

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