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In a semiconductor, is the chemical potential of electrons limited to take values only between the valence band maximum and conduction band minimum? Are there circumstances where it can cross these bounds?
DrDu said:It probably depends on how you define a semiconductor. Even a band structure is just a theoretical construct which does not correspond to a measurable quantity. I think there are substances whose resistance decreases with temperature and are thus semiconductors which are not well described in terms of a band structure.
DrDu said:No, but I had in mind Landaus- Fermi Liquid theory and some work of W. Kohn from 1964 where he tries to work out what fundamentally makes up a metal.
The chemical potential of electrons is a thermodynamic quantity that represents the potential energy of an electron in a system. It is a measure of the energy required to add or remove an electron from a system at constant temperature and pressure.
Bounds are placed on the chemical potential of electrons because it is a crucial parameter in determining the behavior of electrons in a system. These bounds help to understand the distribution of electrons and their interactions with other particles in a system, leading to a better understanding of its properties and behavior.
The bounds on the chemical potential of electrons are determined through mathematical calculations and experiments. These calculations involve the use of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics principles, while experiments involve manipulating the system and measuring the resulting changes in the chemical potential.
The bounds on the chemical potential of electrons are affected by factors such as temperature, pressure, and the number of electrons present in a system. Other factors, such as the type of material and its composition, can also affect the bounds on the chemical potential.
The bounds on the chemical potential of electrons have significant impacts on many real-world applications, such as energy storage and conversion devices, electronic devices, and materials science. Understanding these bounds can help researchers design more efficient and effective technologies and materials for various applications.