Question

Write any two distinguishing features between conductors, semiconductors and insulators on the basis of energy band diagrams.

Answer 1

Conductors	Insulators	Semiconductors
1. Valence band or conduction band are partially filled.	Valence Band is completely filled with electrons and conduction band is empty.	At 0K, electrons in valence band do not have sufficient energy to jump to conduction band.
2. Valence and conduction bands overlap. Energy gap ~ 0 eV.	Valence and conduction band have Energy gap ~ 6 eV.	Forbidden gap in between conductors and insulators. Energy gap ~ 3 eV.
3. Conductivity is highest.	Conductivity is very low.	Conductivity is in between conductors and insulators.