MTLE-6120: Advanced Electronic Properties of Materials Band theory of solids
Reading:
◮ Kasap: 4.1 - 4.5
MTLE-6120: Advanced Electronic Properties of Materials Band theory - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
1 MTLE-6120: Advanced Electronic Properties of Materials Band theory of solids Reading: Kasap: 4.1 - 4.5 2 Crystals Periodic arrangement of atoms (ions: nuclei + core electrons) Previously: classical motion of electrons in crystal
◮ Kasap: 4.1 - 4.5
◮ Periodic arrangement of atoms (ions: nuclei + core electrons) ◮ Previously: classical motion of electrons in crystal ◮ What was the role of the periodicity? None! ◮ Next: quantum motion of electrons in crystal ◮ Bravais lattice: regular grid of points ◮ Lattice vectors
◮ Any point on grid n1
◮ Unit cell: repeat at grid points to fill space ◮ Multiple atoms possible per unit cell
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
◮ Mass m attached to a spring with constant k ◮ Equation of motion in displacement x:
◮ In terms of ω0 =
0x ◮ Oscillatory solutions e±iω0t with angular frequency ω0
◮ Two masses m each attached to a spring with constant k ◮ Equation of motion in displacements x1 and x2:
◮ Solutions: both x1 and x2 oscillate with ω0 =
◮ Two masses m each attached to a spring with constant k ◮ Attached to each other with another spring with constant K ◮ Equation of motion in displacements x1 and x2:
◮ Coupled equations, x1 and x2 are not each an oscillator ◮ Add and subtract
◮ Oscillator differential equations in (x1 ± x2) ◮ (x1 + x2) oscillates with frequency
◮ (x1 − x2) oscillates with frequency
◮ Equation of motion in matrix form:
◮ Diagonalize A = V · D · V −1 using eigenvalue diagonal matrix D and
◮ Corresponding eigenvalues are mω2 = (k + K) ∓ K i.e. k and k + 2K
◮ For three oscillators
◮ Eigenvalues mω2:
◮ For N oscillators, get N × N matrix
◮ Consider eigenvector of displacements X = (x1, x2, . . . , xN) with
◮ nth row (n = 1, N) of eigenvalue equation AX = λX is
◮ nth row (n = 1, N) of eigenvalue equation AX = λX is
◮ Try solution of form xn = eik(na) where a is spacing between oscillators
◮ All rows satisfy this condition except first and last
◮ Connect last spring to first
◮ Edge equations after connecting last spring to first
from n = N
from n = 1
◮ Canceling common factors:
◮ These are the same as the other equations when eNika = 1 i.e.
◮ Here, j can be any integer, but for j → j + N, k → k + 2π/a and
◮ Eigenvalues mω2 = λ = D + 2C cos ka = (k + 2K) − 2K cos ka ◮ k = 2πj/(Na) for j = 0, 1, 2, . . . , N − 1 becomes continuous k ∈ [0, 2π) ◮ Spacing in k = 2π/(Na) = 2π/L, where L = Na is length of system k k+2K k+4K
0π/a 1π/a 2π/a 3π/a k mω2 ◮ Eigenvalues mω2 form a ‘band’ with range [k, k + 4K] ◮ Band center set by diagonal element k + 2K ◮ Band width set by off-diagonal element K (coupling strength) ◮ Any interval in k of length 2π/a equivalent; conventionally [−π/a, π/a]
◮ An array of δ-potentials at na i.e. V (x) = −V0
◮ Consider E < 0 case first, with κ =
◮ Wavefunctions e±κx in each segment, say
◮ Add first and third equations, subtract fourth from secondequation:
◮ Collect all A terms to left side and B to right side:
◮ Eliminate Bn:
◮ Substitute An = eikna:
◮ Since t ≡ e−κa
◮ Energy eigenvalue is E = ω = − 2κ2 2m ◮ For the δ-atom, we got a unique κ = mV0/2 ≡ q/2 ◮ But now, an entire family of solutions for k ∈ (−π/a, π/a):
◮ First consider limit of deep potential i.e. large q; rearrange:
◮ Large q ⇒ large κ ⇒ sinh, cosh extremely large ◮ For q → ∞, κ → q/2 as in the δ-atom ◮ For large q, substitute κ = q/2 in RHS to get
2
2 − cos(ka)) ≈ q
◮ For large q,
E0
◮ Exactly like the coupled springs! ◮ First term = band center = energy E0 of isolated δ-atom ◮ Second term ∝ band width and coupling strength ∝ e−qa/2 ◮ Coupling proportional to overlap between wavefunctions at adjacent atoms
◮ For bound states E = −2κ2 2m
◮ For free states E = 2K2 2m
◮ Plot LHS as a function of E = 2K2 2m
2m ; note |RHS| ≤ 1
◮ When LHS magnitude > 1, those κ or K not valid solutions ◮ Correspondingly, not all E valid: bands!
◮ Now plot with respect to k instead ◮ Repeats when k → k + 2π/a as for the classical springs
◮ Potentials no longer present: free electrons!
◮ Weak potentials: nearly-free electrons ◮ Potential opens up ‘gaps’ at k = 0, ±π/a
◮ Gaps widen as potential gets stronger ◮ Electrons more tightly bound
◮ Band widths reduce as potential gets stronger ◮ Band structure resembles tight-binding case (C + D cos ka)
◮ Bands begin to approach discrete energy levels like atoms ◮ At same strength, higher energies less affected ⇒ wider bands
◮ Wavefunction of the form
◮ Solution An = eikna ◮ From matching conditions
◮ Substitute:
◮ Same form for E > 0 with κ → iK, so all wavefunctions of form
◮ Relative to start of interval x = na, piece in [
◮ Change from one unit cell to another only in eikna i.e. relative phase eika ◮ Bloch’s theorem: eigenfunctions of any periodic potential ei k· r× periodic
k(
◮ In this case, periodic part (called Bloch function) is
◮ Assume large enough V0 and hence q and κ that e−κa ≪ 1. Also, in this
◮ Same form to the left and right of each na, only with κ ↔ −κ ⇒
◮ Exactly the δ-atom wavefunction at each na, combined with phase eikna
◮ Consider from a different perspective ◮ Free electron eiKx incident on atom at x = 0 ◮ Reflected wave Re−iKx ◮ Free electron eiKx incident on atom at x = a ◮ Reflected wave eiKaRe−iK(x−a) = Re−iKx · e2iKa ◮ Neighbouring atoms reflect with relative phase e2ika ◮ Strong reflections at 2Ka = 2nπ ⇒ K = nπ/a
◮ Hence strongest effect of potential at K = nπ/a (which is k = 0, ±π/a) ◮ Therefore, potential opens up ‘gaps’ at k = 0, ±π/a
◮ Bound state with k ≈ 0 ◮ Similar phase at x = na
◮ Bound state with k ≈ π/(2a) ◮ Phase at x = na has period ∼ 4 unit cells
◮ Bound state with k ≈ π/a ◮ Phase at x = na has period ∼ 2 unit cells (alternates sign) ◮ Maximum probability at attractive δ-potential: lower energy
◮ Free state with k ≈ π/a ◮ Phase at x = na has period ∼ 2 unit cells (alternates sign) ◮ Minimum probability at attractive δ-potential: higher energy ◮ Jump between this and previous case causes jump in energy ⇒ band gap
◮ Free state with k ≈ π/(2a) ◮ Phase at x = na has period ∼ 4 unit cells
◮ Free state with k ≈ 0 ◮ Similar phase at x = na
◮ Free state with k ≈ 0, but higher K ◮ Similar phase at x = na, but more oscillations within each unit cell
◮ Free state with k ≈ π/(2a) ◮ Phase at x = na has period ∼ 4 unit cells
◮ Free state with k ≈ π/a ◮ Phase at x = na has period ∼ 2 unit cells (alternates sign)
◮ So far: energy of a single electron in a periodic potential ◮ Reality: many interacting electrons ◮ DFT picture: eigen-states of effective potential VKS(
◮ Assume δ-crystal potential was such an effective potential ◮ To fill electrons, need to know how many states in a band? ◮ Periodic boundary conditions in length L, spacing in k is 2π/L ◮ Range of k is from −π/a to +π/a with length 2π/a ◮ Therefore, number of k is (2π/a)/(2π/L) = L/a = number of unit cells ◮ So one electron per unit cell ⇔ one set of
◮ Except spin! Two electrons per unit cell ⇔ one set of
1/cell 2/cell 3/cell 4/cell 5/cell 6/cell
◮ Filled state with maximum energy:
◮ Empty state with minimum energy:
◮ Each electron/cell fills half a band ◮ Odd electrons/cell: HOMO = LUMO
◮ Even electrons/cell: HOMO at band
◮ Two types of semiconductors in 1D:
a
◮ So far: 1D crystal, unit cell length a ◮ Electron energies depend on Bloch wave-vector k periodic with 2π/a ◮ Periodicity because phase between unit cells eika unchanged when
◮ Therefore we could represent all properties in interval [−π/a, π/a] ◮ In 3D, crystal represented by lattice vectors
◮ Electron energies depend on Bloch wave-vector
◮ What is the periodicity in
◮ Phase between unit cells ei k· aj along jth lattice direction (j = 1, 2, 3) ◮ If
k· aj → ei( k+ G)· aj = ei k· ajei2πnj = ei k· aj (unchanged)
◮ Consider vectors
◮ Suppose
i mi
◮ Then
i mi
i miδij = mj (an integer) ◮ So all the
k· aj unchanged also a lattice with basis vectors
◮ Let A = (
◮ Defining condition written as BT · A = 2πI ⇒ B = 2πA−T
◮ Specifically in 3D, this inverse can be written explicitly as
◮ Reciprocal lattice vectors relevant for (X-ray / electron) diffraction from
G· aj = 1
◮ Unit cell of the reciprocal lattice (any shape possible, only volume matters) ◮ Fundamental Brillouin zone: set of
i mi
◮ In 1D, reduces to [−π/a, +π/a] (i.e. the set of k such that |k| < π/a ◮ For cubic crystals with spacing a, a cube with |kx|, |ky|, |kz| ≤ π/a ◮ For general lattice, shapes can be quite complex (up to 6 edges in 2D, 14
◮ Face centered cubic lattice with cubic length a:
◮ Reciprocal lattice is body-centered with cubic length 4π/a:
◮ Brillouin zone is a truncated octahedron ◮ 8 hexagonal faces: nearest neighbours ◮ 6 square faces: next-nearest neighbours L W Γ K X
◮ Band structure E(
◮ Paths connecting special high-symmetry points show important features
◮ Note complexity compared to 1D:
◮ E = 0 typically set to HOMO level ◮ Valence electrons/cell = 11 (odd), configuration: 5d106s1 L W Γ K X
◮ HOMO = Valence Band Maximum (VBM) with energy Ev
◮ Valence electrons/cell = 10 (even), configuration: 5d96s1 ◮ Even electrons / cell can be metallic in 3D!
◮ HOMO = Valence Band Maximum (VBM) with energy Ev
◮ HOMO-LUMO gap Eg = Ec − Ev ≈ 1.1 eV ◮ HOMO and LUMO at different
◮ Diamond: similar band structure, much larger gap (≈ 5.5 eV) ⇒ insulator ◮ Valence electrons/cell = 8 (even), configuration: 3s23p2 (two Si/cell)
◮ HOMO-LUMO gap Eg = Ec − Ev ≈ 1.4 eV ◮ HOMO and LUMO at same
◮ Valence electrons/cell = 8 (even), configuration: Ga(4s24p1), As(4s24p3)
◮ Crystal causes electronic band structure E(
◮ Apply force F to electron
◮ Acceleration of electron
kω(
kE(
k
kE(
k
kE(
◮ Quantum mechanically d v dt = ∇ k
kE(
◮ ∇ k
kE(
◮ In general, effective mass tensor m∗ ij(
◮ For metals, typically report average m∗ for all HOMO levels (Fermi surface) ◮ For semiconductors, typically report average m∗ each for VBM and CBM
◮ Multiple values in column ⇒ anisotropic (longitudinal / transverse) ◮ Recall mobility µ = eτ m → eτ m∗ ◮ Semiconductors: typically lower effective mass ⇒ higher mobility ◮ Noble metals: free-electron like because m∗ ≈ me ◮ d-metals like Pt: flat bands, low curvature (∂2E/∂k2), high m∗ (poor
◮ Top of bands: negative
◮ Apply force: electron moves in
◮ If band filled except for one electron,
◮ Semiconductor at finite T: few
◮ But why do all the electrons in the
◮ Consider a single filled band E(k) with applied electric field E ◮ Drift velocity of electrons in state k is v(k) = −eEτ/m∗(k) ◮ Average drift velocity of all electrons in band is:
−π/a
−π/a
−π/a
−π/a
−π/a
◮ Filled band does not conduct: positive and negative mass contributions
◮ Same proof extends to 3D with some vector calculus
◮ Most properties depend on the number of states available at a given energy ◮ We know distribution of states (per unit volume, including spin) with
◮ We used this to count states in frequency intervals for light ω = ck ◮ In general, given En(
◮ For a free electron E(k) = 2k2/(2m),
5 10 15 1 2 3 4 5 g(E) [eV-1nm-d] E [eV] 1D 2D 3D ◮ Singularity at band edge in 1D (∝ 1/
◮ Constant and abruptly drops to zero at band edge in 2D ◮ Goes to zero smoothly at band edge in 3D (∝
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 5 E [eV] g(E) [eV-1nm-3] Valence band, m* = -0.3 Conduction band, m* = 0.5 ◮ Parabolic bands near each band edge, with different effective masses ◮ Overall DOS reduces with reduced effective mass magnitude
◮ Can calculate numerically from band structure ◮ Parabolic band approximation valid only for narrow energy range near gap