- #1
chimay
- 81
- 7
Hi,
I am studying the Metal-Semiconductor junction. I cannot find any clear explanation of the continuity of the vacuum level at the interface. Can someone help me?
My reference book provides me with the following:
When two different materials are brought into contact, they must share the same free electron level at the interface, i.e. the free electron level is continuous from one material to the next. This is because at the interface of two materials, an electron that is free from the crystal field of one material is also free from the crystal field of the other material.
This explanation doesn't convince me because at the interface the bands are not continuos. So speaking of " the energy of an electron at the interface" doesn't make any sense for me...
Thank you
I am studying the Metal-Semiconductor junction. I cannot find any clear explanation of the continuity of the vacuum level at the interface. Can someone help me?
My reference book provides me with the following:
When two different materials are brought into contact, they must share the same free electron level at the interface, i.e. the free electron level is continuous from one material to the next. This is because at the interface of two materials, an electron that is free from the crystal field of one material is also free from the crystal field of the other material.
This explanation doesn't convince me because at the interface the bands are not continuos. So speaking of " the energy of an electron at the interface" doesn't make any sense for me...
Thank you