Does direct/indirect band gap occur in solids other than semiconductors?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether direct and indirect band gaps occur in solids beyond semiconductors, exploring the presence of these phenomena in various materials such as insulators and metals. The scope includes theoretical considerations and references to existing literature.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if direct and indirect band gaps are exclusive to semiconductors, seeking clarification on their occurrence in other solids.
  • Another participant points out that while many sources focus on semiconductors, the concept of band gaps is illustrated in materials like diamond, which is classified as an insulator.
  • A later reply emphasizes that there are numerous studies on band gaps in materials other than semiconductors, mentioning specific examples such as magnetic insulators and transitional metal oxides.
  • Participants discuss the implications of band gaps in various contexts, including the behavior of n-type and p-type oxides and their applications in protective and conductive roles.
  • Some participants express frustration with repeated references to Wikipedia, suggesting that the information is not adequately addressing the original question.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the original question, with multiple competing views regarding the applicability of direct and indirect band gaps in different materials remaining unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in the sources referenced, particularly the focus on semiconductors in many texts, and the need for further exploration of band gaps in other types of materials.

qnach
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TL;DR
Is direct and indirect band gap also occurs in other solids?
I learnt direct and indirect band gap in semi-conductor books. Is direct and indirect band gap also occurs in other solids?
 
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qnach said:
this page as well as other books all mentioned only direct and indirect band gap in semi-conductor
Note that while the article does focus on semiconductors, the first example it gives of a band gap, in the figure at the top of the page, is in diamond, which is not a semiconductor but an insulator.
 
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qnach said:
We all know how to google and look at wiki. There is really no need to give a wiki link.
Please note, this page as well as other books all mentioned only direct and indirect band gap in semi-conductor without discussing what I asked!!!
Please calm down. The reply by @Baluncore was meant to be helpful without outright giving you the answer to your question. It is ironic that you say that you know how to look this up on wiki/Google, since that will give you the answer directly. Your original thread title was pretty terse, so I added to it to make it more descriptive about the same time that Baluncore replied. If you do a Google search on the better thread title, you will see your direct answer.

Unfortunately, Google uses AI for its initial answer, so you cannot trust it. I post the AI answer below, along with one of the first real hits that helps with the answer you were seeking.

This thread is reopened provisionally in case you have questions about the answer you can get by doing the Google search that I did.

1762821966421.webp


1762822045901.webp


https://www.rp-photonics.com/band_gap.html
 
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qnach said:
We all know how to google and look at wiki. There is really no need to give a wiki link.
Please note, this page as well as other books all mentioned only direct and indirect band gap in semi-conductor without discussing what I asked!!!
One could have searched on "direct/indirect band gaps in metals, insulators, dielectrics, . . . . " When I searched on "direct/indirect band gaps in insulators", I found the artlcle berkeman cited, "Band Gap" in the
RP Photonics Encyclopedia, which mentions other forms of matter besides semiconductors.

There are many studies on band gaps in a variety of materials other than semiconductors.
For example, "Band Gap in Magnetic Insulators from a Charge Transition Level Approach"
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jctc.0c00134

Elucidating the high-k insulator α-Al2O3 direct/indirect energy band gap type through density functional theory computations
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0009261415005916

Pick any transitional metal oxide and one will find studies on its band gap. I'm interested in the behavior of n-type and p-type oxides, which have implications in a protective oxide (insulator and corrosion resistance layer (passivation of metal substrates)) and conductive oxide (catalysts, photochemical reactors, photoconductors). Note, like semicconductors, there are no pure oxides, and the 'doping', or presence of other elements, affects the chemical-electronic properties of the metal oxide.
 
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