the work function for Si was determined to be about 4.85 eV for single crystal samples. What wavelength of light in nanometers is required to detach an electron from Si such that the electron has zero kinetic energy? 1 eV = 1.6019 x 10-19 Joules.

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Solar panels are a technology that utilize the the photovoltaic effect - a phenomenon very similar to the photoelectric effect! In the photoelectric effect, light is shone on a material's surface. If the wavelength of the light is short enough to supply the amount of energy needed to ionize an atom, then electrons are completely ejected from the material's surface with some nonzero kinetic energy. 

In the photovoltaic effect, electrons detached from atoms upon the absorption of a photon remain in the bulk material instead of being completely ejected. The electrons freed by the interaction of the sunlight with the semiconductor material creates an electron flow within the absorbing material (typically Silicon) as the free electrons move together around an external circuit. This current, in conjunction with an internal electric field set up by the combination of materials in the solar panel (which can be thought of as a small battery supplying a voltage), allows for the generation of clean, sustainable power.

In 1977, the work function for Si was determined to be about 4.85 eV for single crystal samples. What wavelength of light in nanometers is required to detach an electron from Si such that the electron has zero kinetic energy? 1 eV = 1.6019 x 10-19 Joules.

 

Expert Solution
Step 1

To calculate the wavelength of the light required.

Given:
Work function of Si: W=4.85 eV
Conversion ratio of eV1 eV=1.6019×10-19 J

To calculate:
The required wavelength of light: λ

The energy of light with wavelength λ is:
E=hcλ,
where,
c is the speed of light. The value is: c=3×108 m/s
h is the Planck's constant. The value is: h=6.626×10-34 Js

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