valence band
Americannoun
noun
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The outermost electron shell of atoms in an insulator or semiconductor, in which the electrons are too tightly bound to the atom to carry electric current.
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Compare conduction band See also bandgap
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Excitons form inside semiconductors when electrons absorb energy and jump from their resting state in the valence band to a higher energy state in the conduction band.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 22, 2026
An excited electron also leaves a hole in the underlying valence band -- a mobile vacancy that can be moved through the material like a positive charge carrier.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 10, 2024
In order to conduct electricity, electrons must move from the filled valence band to the empty conduction band where they can move throughout the solid.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Solar cells produce electricity when light provides the energy to move electrons out of the valence band.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Grain boundaries are typically copper-poor in CIGSSe devices relative to the grain interiors, which modifies the valence band offset such that the boundaries repel holes and recombination is reduced.
From Nature ● Aug. 15, 2012
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
