In a material, the energy difference between its non-conductive state and its conductive state. There is virtually no bandgap in most metals, but a very large one in an insulator (dielectric). In a semiconductor, the bandgap is small. Technically, the bandgap is the energy it takes to move electrons from the valence band to the conduction band.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
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