Semiconductor physics

Which of the following materials has the largest band gap?

  1. ASilicon (Si)
  2. BGermanium (Ge)
  3. CSilicon dioxide (SiO2)
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Answer: C. Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

Silicon dioxide has a very large band gap of about 9 eV and behaves as an insulator. Silicon is about 1.12 eV and germanium about 0.66 eV. Because of its large band gap, SiO2 has been used for gate insulators and interlayer dielectrics.

  • A. Silicon is about 1.12 eV, much smaller than SiO2.
  • B. Germanium is about 0.66 eV, the smallest of the three.
  • C. Correct. SiO2 is an insulator with a large band gap of about 9 eV.
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More Semiconductor physics questions

  1. Which is the correct unit of carrier mobility?
  2. With electron density n, hole density p, electron mobility μn, hole mobility μp and elementary charge q, which expression gives the conductivity σ of a semiconductor?
  3. What is the process called in which electrons and holes recombine through deep levels (traps) in the band gap?
  4. With minority carrier diffusion coefficient D and lifetime τ, which expression gives the diffusion length L?
  5. How does the band gap of silicon change as the temperature rises?