Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Calculations and measurements of the zero point renormalization (ZPR) energy Δ g Z P of the fundamental gap of semiconductors (SCs) have attracted scientific interest for decades. Examination of the thermodynamics of the formation of electron–hole pairs ( ehp ) in non-degenerate SCs indicates that Δ g ZP is proportional to the standard entropy change Δ s cv T → ∞ for this reaction, at temperatures much larger than the Debye temperature Θ D . Consequently, if a kinetic compensation effect (KCE) governs the ehp generation process, the ZPR energy should exhibit a coarse-grained correlation with the corresponding enthalpy change Δ h cv T → ∞ . Indeed, non-degenerate, covalent bulk SCs can be grouped such that all members of a given group f will satisfy, on average, Δ g , f Z P ≈ a f Δ h e h , f T → ∞ + E f a trend that is shown here to hold to a significant extent, with the possible exception of crystals with a wurtzite structure. These observations support the applicability of the KCE to the equilibrium generation–recombination reactions 0 ⇄ e − + h + in covalent SCs and insulators. Showing that the
Author: Remo A Masut
Institution: Polytechnique Montréal
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,325
OpenAlex ID: W7204961512