What is the Conduction Band and How Does it Affect Material Properties?

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The conduction band is a range of energy levels in a material where conduction band electrons reside, typically close to the Fermi energy. These electrons can absorb or radiate energy, allowing for "gapless" transitions with low-energy radiation and higher energy photons leading to photoionization. The photoelectric effect illustrates how higher energy photons can free electrons from the conduction band. Additionally, plasmons represent low-lying excitations within the conduction band, where photons induce fluctuations in the charge density of the conduction electron "gas." Understanding these processes is crucial for grasping how the conduction band influences material properties.
Neha Sanghvi
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Anyone please explain to me what is conduction band and what are conduction band electrons? What energy do they have and how do they transfer it?
 
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Neha Sanghvi said:
What energy do they have and how do they transfer it?
Transfer it to what ?
 
Gokul43201 said:
Transfer it to what ?
I mean how do they absorb or radiate energy ( continuously or discreetly )?

P.S. - :smile: Sorry for using the wrong term. Actually, I didn't think someone would read it in so detail! :approve:
 
The energy of the electrons in the conduction band is close to the fermi energy of the material. "Gapless" transitions within the conduction band are possible by absorbing very low energy radiation ("nearly" continuous values of frequency). Higher energy photons cause photoionization of the conduction electrons (the photoelectric effect).

Also, you have low lying excitations of the conduction band, known as plasmons, where the incident photon excites fluctuations in the charge density of the conduction electron "gas".
 

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