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
The electrons then fall back into the valence band and become worthless in terms of electricity generation.
From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2024
The valence band is lower in energy and the conduction band is higher in energy.
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
Only a very small amount of energy is required to move electrons from the valence band to the conduction band in a conductor, and so they conduct electricity well.
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.
