Valence band: definition · Chip Field Guide

Beginner

The lower energy level in silicon. It is full of electrons that hold the atoms together, so none of them can move.

Novice

The band of allowed energies below the band gap, filled by the electrons that form the covalent bonds. A full band carries no current; an empty spot in it (a hole) can. Its top edge is written $E_{\mathrm{v}}$ .

Expert

Hole density $p = N_{\mathrm{v}}\, e^{-(E_{\mathrm{F}} - E_{\mathrm{v}})/kT}$ , with $N_{\mathrm{v}} \approx 1.04 \times 10^{19}\,\mathrm{cm^{-3}}$ in Si. Holes have a larger effective mass and about a third of the electron mobility in silicon.