What Is 1 eV? The Secret Energy Unit Behind Semiconductors
What is an eV (Electron-volt)?
An electron-volt (eV) is a unit of energy, commonly used in electronics and atomic physics to describe the energy levels of particles like electrons.
Why eV and Not Joules?
The energy involved at the atomic and subatomic level is extremely small. Using Joules (the standard SI unit) would give you tiny decimal numbers like 0.0000000000000000001 J!
So instead, scientists and engineers use the electron-volt, a much more practical unit.
1 eV is the amount of energy gained (or lost) by an electron when it is accelerated through an electric potential difference of 1 volt.
In SI Units:
1 eV = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ Joules
Where eV is Used:
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Band gap energies in semiconductors (like 1.1 eV for Silicon).
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Photon energy calculations (E = h/λ).
Atomic energy levels and quantum transitions.
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X-rays, LEDs, lasers, and solar cells.
The electron-volt (eV) is the go-to unit when dealing with the tiny, powerful world of electrons.
Without it, describing semiconductor behavior or energy bands would be a nightmare in decimal places!
Relationship Between Speed, Frequency, and Wavelength:
The speed of light is related to the frequency and wavelength of a wave by the equation:
c = ν × λ
But sometimes, people rearrange it for specific contexts:
ν = c / λ
Where:
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c = speed of light in vacuum = 3 × 10⁸ m/s
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ν (nu) = frequency of the wave (in Hz)
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λ (lambda) = wavelength of the wave (in meters or angstroms)
This formula is especially important in photon energy, semiconductor physics, and optics, where frequency and wavelength determine how energy behaves.
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