Wide bandgap semiconductor -- why higher temperature tolerance?

[ceeeejay]

I was wondering if anyone knows the relationship with temperature and frequency tuning in wide bandgap semiconductors. I just want to know why wider bandgaps have higher temperature tolerance and why does that mean high frequencies can be achieved? Explanation with formulas would be great!

 

[gckaufman]

I don't know any formulas offhand but I can tell you that if the bandgap is larger, then it is harder to thermally excite electrons from the valence band to the conduction band. I don't know how that relates to frequencies though.

 

[ceeeejay]

I don't know any formulas offhand but I can tell you that if the bandgap is larger, then it is harder to thermally excite electrons from the valence band to the conduction band. I don't know how that relates to frequencies though.

well silicon are currently used in most integrated devices due to its high thermal properties. i was wondering if the thermal coefficient of semiconductors were higher than that of silicon would that mean it would be able to achieve higher frequencies due to its wider bandgap?

 

[my2cts]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide-bandgap_semiconductor