1. CONDUCTIVITY Conductivity Superconductivity Electronic Properties
Robert M Rose, Lawrence A Shepart, John Wulff
Wiley Eastern Limited, New Delhi (1987)

2. Mechanisms of conduction and origin of resistance
Conduction by electrons and ions (including protons).
Any impediment to motion gives rise to resistance. The relevant material property is resistivity.
Scattering of the moving electron under a potential gradient from various sources (atoms, phonons, etc.) lead to resistance in electronic conductors.
Spin dependent electron scattering is also possible (e.g. in the GMR effect). Repeated scattering can lead to phenomena like Anderson localization.
For conduction: (i) driving field is required and (ii) energy levels should be available for electrons to be promoted to. The issue of cross coupling terms.
In conductors the field leads to current. In dielectrics (insulators) it may cause polarization.
Conductivity depends on the number of charge carries and their mobility.
Field and current are vectors and hence resistivity (ij) and conductivity (ij) are second order tensors.

3. Metallic materials Semi-conductors Insulators
Resistivity range in Ohm m  25 orders of magnitude
Metallic materials
Semi-conductors
109
10 7
105
103
101
101
103 Ag
Cu Al Au Ni Pb
Sb Bi
Graphite Ge
(doped) Si
Solid electrolytes
Insulators
105
107
109
1011
1013
1015
1017
Window glass Ionic conductivity
Bakelite
Porcelain
Diamond
Rubber
Polyethylene
Lucite
Mica
PVC
SiO2
(pure)

4. Classification based on Band structure
Metals
Semi-metals
Classification based on Band structure
Semi-conductors
Semi-insulator
Insulators
Semi-insulators are: (i) doped semi-conductors with dopant level near band edge or (ii) large band-gap semi-conductors are referred to as semi-insulators.
Semi-metals have an (i) overlap of valence and conduction bands across ‘k’ values or (ii) valence band just touches the conduction band.
Material
E.g.
Conductivity
d/dT
Carrier Type
Metals
Cu, Ag, Au
High
Small negative
Electrons
Semi-conductors
Ge, Si
Intermediate
Large positive
Electrons (+holes)
Semi-insulators
GaAs, ZrO2 “
Ions/Electrons
Insulators
Al2O3
Low
Very large, positive
Ions /+ electrons

5. Semi-insulators are: (i) doped semi-conductors with dopant level near band edge or (ii) large band-gap semi-conductors are referred to as semi-insulators.
Semi-metals have an (i) overlap of valence and conduction bands across ‘k’ values or (ii) valence band just touches the conduction band.
Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an insulator, and not a metal,

6. Free Electron Theory
Outermost electrons of the atoms take part in conduction.
These electrons are assumed to be free to move through the whole solid  Free electron cloud / gas, Fermi gas.
Potential field due to ion-cores is assumed constant  potential energy of electrons is not a function of the position (constant negative potential).
The kinetic energy of the electron is much lower than that of bound electrons in an isolated atom.

7.  ↑ → k ↓ → E ↓ E → k → Wave particle duality of electrons
 → de Broglie wavelength
v → velocity of the electrons
h → Planck’s constant
Wave number vector (k)
Non relativistic
k is a vector in 2D/3D and is represented as a scalar in 1D
 ↑ → k ↓ → E ↓
E →
Discrete energy levels
(Pauli’s exclusion principle)
Free electrons
k →

8. Quantization of Energy levels
Confined Electron L
Electron in an 1D box
n=1
n=3
n=2
If the length of the box is L (e.g. a crystal)
Number of electrons moving from left to right equals the number in the opposite direction
n → integer (quantum number)
Quantization of Energy levels

9. In 3D
Each combination of the quantum numbers nx , ny , nz corresponds to a distinct quantum energy state.
Many such quantum states have the same energy and said to be degenerate.
S(E), the number of quantum states with energy equal to or less than En is proportional to the volume of the sphere (1/8 of the total volume as the quantum numbers are positive).
The probability of finding an electron at any point in box is proportional to the square of the amplitude  there are peaks and valleys within L.
If the electron wave is considered as a travelling wave the amplitude will be constant.
Energy state in quantum number space
Discrete ‘n’

10. The density of states
The number of energy states per unit energy is called the density of states (DOS, (E)).
DOS is obtained by differentiating S(E) w.r.t to E.
The density of states increases with E.
The highest filled energy level is called the Fermi level (EF).

11. Energy Bands in Conductors
The energy levels in conductors are continuous.
In conductors reciprocal lattice points in ‘k’ space can be defined (/a, 2/a, 3/a, etc.), but these have no real significance.
The information spread across reciprocal lattice points can be reduced within /a the reduced zone scheme).
Only one half of the zones shown (e.g. the first BZ extends from /a to +/a)

12. 2D: Brillouin zones
The first three Brillouin zones are shown in the figures below. The region enclosed between the perpendicular bisectors of the reciprocal lattice vectors are the zones. For zones of the higher order, the extended limiting lines of the lower order zones provide the inner boundary.
All zones have the same area.

13. T > 0 K 0K Increasing T E → Fermi level
At zero K the highest filled energy level (EF) is called the Fermi level.
If EF is independent of temperature (valid for usual temperatures) ► Fermi level is that level which has 50% probability of occupation by an electron.
EF is typically in the range of 2-12 eV.
The kinetic energy of an electron gas is given by the Fermi-Dirac statistics. The probability that a certain energy level is occupied by electrons is given by the Fermi function (F(E)).
The energy range over which the function is smeared out (at a given T) is E. E is about 1% EF.
At high energies (E >> EF) the upper end of the Fermi function can be approximated to the Boltzmann distribution.
T > 0 K 0K
Increasing T
P(E) →
E>>EF
E →

14. Population density
The number of electrons per unit energy (N(E), the electron population density) is calculated as a product of number of possible energy levels and the probability for their occupation. Further, each state can be occupied by 2 electrons (up and down spin).
At zero Kelvin, N(E)=2(E).
The area below the curve is the number of electrons (N*), which have energy less than or equal to En.

15. Fermi surface (2D)
In 2D the Fermi surfaces are curves. At low energies these are circles, but close to the BZ boundary their shape changes (figure below).
Brillouin zone boundary

16. EF Electric Field EF E → k → k → Conduction by free electrons
If there are empty energy states above the Fermi level then in the presence of an electric field there is a redistribution of the electron occupation of the energy levels. EF
Electric Field EF
E →
k →
k →
Force experienced by an electron
m → mass of an electron
E → applied electric field

17. Collisions vd Velocity →  time →
In the presence of the field the electron velocity increases by an amount (above its usual velocity) by an amount called the drift velocity.
The velocity is lost on collision with obstacles.
Velocity →
time → vd
Collisions 
vd → Drift velocity
 → Average collision time

18. The flux due to flow of electrons → Current density (Je)  [charge/area/time]
n → number of free electrons
~ Ohm’s law
Actually n has to be replaced by n* and m by m*.
n* is the number of electrons at the Fermi level

19. Sources of Electron Scattering
Mean free path (MFP) (l) of an electron
The mean distance travelled by an electron between successive collisions is called the mean free path (MFP, l).  l = vd .
For an ideal crystal with no imperfections (or impurities) the MFP at 0 K is .
Ideal crystal  there are no collisions and the conductivity is .
Scattering centres → MFP↓ , ↓  ↓ , ↑.
Scattering centres
Thermal vibration → Phonons
Sources of Electron Scattering
Solute / impurity atoms
Defects
Dislocations
Grain boundaries
Etc.

20. Thermal scattering Impurity scattering
At T > 0K → atomic vibration scatters electrons → Phonon scattering
 T ↑ →  ↓ →  ↑
Low T  MFP  1 / T3    1 / T3
High T  MFP  1 / T    1 / T
Impurity scattering
Resistivity of the alloy is higher than that of the pure metal at all T
The increase in resistivity is  the amount of alloying element added!

21. Increased phonon scattering
Cu, Cu-Ni alloy
Increased phonon scattering 5
Cu-3%Ni 4
Cu-2%Ni
Resistivity () [x 10-8 Ohm m] → 3
Impurity scattering (r) 2
With low density of imperfections 1
Pure Cu
→ 0 as T→ 0K
100
200
300
T (K) →
Mattheissen rule
 = T + r
Net resistivity (approx.) = Thermal resistivity + Resistivity due to impurity scattering

22. Applications Conductors
Power transmission lines → low I2R loss → large cross sectional area
Al used for long distance distribution lines (Elastic ModulusAl increased by steel reinforcement)
OFHC (Oxygen Free High Conductivity) Cu (more expensive) is used for distribution lines and busbars. ► Fe, P, As in Cu degrade conductivity drastically

23. Electrical contacts
Electrical contacts in switches, brushes and relays
Properties: ► High electrical conductivity ► High thermal conductivity → heat dissipation ►High melting point → accidental overheating ► Good oxidation resistance
Cu and Ag used
Ag strengthened by dispersion strengthening by CdO ■ CdO ► Strengthens Ag ► Improves wear resistance ► If arcing occurs → decomposes (At MP of Ag) to absorb the heat

24. Resistor
Properties: ► Uniform resistivity → homogenous alloy ► Stable resistance → Avoid aging / stress relaxation / phase change ► Small T coefficient of resistance (R) → minimizes error in measurement ► Low thermoelectric potential wrt Cu ► Good corrosion resistance
Manganin (87% Cu, 13% Mn, R = 20 x 106 / K) and Constantan (60% Cu, 40% Ni) are good as resistor materials [R (Cu) = 4000 x 106 / K]
Low thermoelectric potential wrt to contact material (usually Cu) reduces error due to temperature difference between junctions. For high precision dissimilar junctions should be maintained at same temperature
Ballast resistors are used in maintaining constant current → I ↑ → T ↑ → R ↑  I ↓ Requirement: high R (71% Fe, 29% Ni → R = 4500 x 106 / K)

25. Heating elements
Properties: ► High melting point ► High resistivity ► Good oxidation resistance ► Good creep strength ► Resistance to thermal fatigue  low elastic modulus  low coefficient of thermal expansion
■ Upto 1300oC Nichrome (80% Ni, 20% Cr), Kanthal (69% Fe, 23% Cr, 6% Al, 2% Co) ■ Upto 1700oC: SiC & MoSi ■ Upto 1800oC: Graphite
Mo and Ta need protective atmosphere at high T
W (MP = 3410oC) is used is used as filament in light bulbs → creep resistance above 1500oC improved by dispersion hardening with ThO2
Resistance thermometers: ► High temperature coefficient of resistivity ► Pure Pt

26. SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

27. Resistivity () [x 10-11 Ohm m] → Resistivity () [x 10-11 Ohm m] →
Superconducting transition 10 20 Ag Sn
Resistivity () [x Ohm m] →
Resistivity () [x Ohm m] → 5 10 ? 10 20 Tc 5 10
T (K) →
T (K) →
Superconducting transition temperature

28. Hc / Jc Normal Jc [Amp / m2] → 0 Hc [Wb / m2] → Superconducting
Current carrying capacity
The maximum current a superconductor can carry is limited by the magnetic field that it produces at the surface of the superconductor
Hc / Jc
Normal
Jc [Amp / m2] →
0 Hc [Wb / m2] →
Superconducting
T (K) → Tc

29. Superconducting Normal Meissner effect
A superconductor is a perfect diamagnet (magnetic suceptibility  = 1)
Flux lines of the magnetic field are excluded out of the superconductor  Meissner effect
Superconducting
Normal

30. Theory of low temperature superconductivity-
Theory of low temperature superconductivity- Bardeen-Cooper-Schreiffer (BCS) theory
Three way interaction between an two electron and a phonon
Phonon scattering due to lattice vibrations felt by one electron in the Cooper pair is nullified by the other electron in the pair  the electron pair moves through the lattice without getting scattered by the lattice vibrations
The force of attraction between the electrons in the Cooper pair is stronger than the repulsive force between the electrons when T < Tc

31. Type I and Type II superconductors

32. Type I M → Normal Superconducting H → Hc
Type I (Ideal) superconductors
Type I SC placed in a magnetic field totally repels the flux lines till the magnetic field attains the critical value Hc
Type I
M →
Normal
Superconducting
H → Hc

33. Gradual penetration of the magnetic flux lines
Type II (Hard) superconductors
Type II SC has three regions
Type I
Vortex Region
Gradual penetration of the magnetic flux lines
M →
Super conducting
Vortex
Normal
H →
Hc1 Hc
Hc2

34. As type II SC can carry high current densities (Jc) they are of great practical importance
The penetration characteristics of the magnetic flux lines (between Hc1 and Hc2) is a function of the microstructure of the material  presence of pinning centres in the material
Pinning centres:  Cell walls of high dislocation density (cold worked/recovery annealed)  Grain boundaries (Fine grained material)  Precipitates (Dispersion of very fine precipitates with interparticle spacing ~ 300 Å)
Jc ↑ as Hc2 ↑

35. Nb – 40%Ti alloy, T = 4.2 K, Magnetic field strength = 0.9 Hc2
Microsctructure
Jc (A / m2)
Recrystallized
105
Cold worked and recovery annealed
107
Cold worked and precipitation hardened
108

36. Potential Applications
Strong magnetic fields → 50 Tesla (without heating, without large power input)
Logic and storage functions in computers Josephson junction → fast switching times (~ 10 ps)
Magnetic levitation (arising from Meissner effect)
Power transmission

37. High Tc superconductivity
Compound Tc
Comments
Nb3Ge
23 K
Till 1986
La-Ba-Cu-O
34 K
Bednorz and Mueller (1986)
YBa2Cu3O7-x
90 K
> Boiling point of Liquid N2
Tl (Bi)-Ba(Sr)-Ca-Cu-O
125 K

38. Manufacture of YBa2Cu3O7-x
Please read from text book

39. Crystal structure of YBa2Cu3O7x

40. Electron in a periodic potential
Let us consider a periodic potential with lattice spacing of ‘a’.