Just another confusion on Fermi level and Fermi energy

Asked May 13 '20 at 10:30

Active May 13 '20 at 11:19

Viewed 156 times

I've heard it so many times:

"At 0 K Fermi energy and Fermi level are the same."

"The Fermi level for an intrinsic semiconductor lies at the middle of the band gap."

And the definition of the Fermi energy is

The highest level of energy up to which electrons are filled.

Now my confusion is if Fermi energy is an energy state filled by electron how can it (Fermi energy=Fermi level at 0K) lie in the band gap (gap means there is no energy state that can be occupied by electron)?

edited May 13 '20 at 11:19

Qmechanic

201,751

asked May 13 '20 at 10:30

physu

As there is no state available at the fermi energy, in energy level diagram, so the probability that fermi level will be occupied doesn't make any sense. At 0 K valance band is filled upto its max energy level. – Gagan Saggu May 13 '20 at 10:54
You may want to look at my answer to another question here: https://physics.stackexchange.com/a/549647/247642 – Roger V. May 13 '20 at 11:06
2

Does this answer your question? Understanding the Fermi level and the Fermi-Dirac distribution – Roger V. May 13 '20 at 11:06

Just another confusion on Fermi level and Fermi energy

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