Semiconductor physics

How does the band gap of silicon change as the temperature rises?

  1. AIt becomes slightly smaller
  2. BIt becomes slightly larger
  3. CIt stays constant regardless of temperature
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Answer: A. It becomes slightly smaller

As the temperature rises, the band gap becomes slightly smaller due to thermal expansion of the lattice and lattice vibrations. For silicon, it decreases by about 0.3 meV per kelvin near room temperature. This is also one reason the forward voltage of a diode drops with temperature.

  • A. Correct. The band gap shrinks slightly as temperature rises.
  • B. In most semiconductors, the band gap decreases as temperature rises.
  • C. The band gap does change slightly with temperature.
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  2. Which value is closest to the energy of a single photon of light with a wavelength of 620 nm? (E [eV] ≈ 1240 / λ [nm])
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