Bandgap Energy

Bandgap energy is the amount of energy needed for an electron in a material, such as a semiconductor, to jump from its resting state (valence band) to a higher energy state (conduction band) where it can freely move and conduct electricity. Think of it as an energy "threshold" that determines whether a material acts as an insulator, conductor, or semiconductor. Materials with a small bandgap require less energy to conduct electricity, while those with a large bandgap need more energy. This property influences how electronic devices like solar cells, LEDs, and microchips function.