work function

[sinayu71]

For metals, work function is defined as the energy gap from fermi level to the vacuum level and electrons can escape from material if they have a certain mount of kinetic energy that is larger than the work function. But, how can we define the work function for the semiconductor or it is totally wrong to use this term instead of using ionization potential to describe an electron escaping from semiconductor material to the vaccum?

Like to hear something from your guys. :rolleyes:

Sinayu71

[ZapperZ]

The "work function" for a semiconductor is defined as the band gap plus the energy from the bottom of the conduction band to the vacuum level, which is often called the electron affinity.

Zz.