What type of semiconductor behavior is exhibited by a material with a very small band gap?

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Q: What type of semiconductor behavior is exhibited by a material with a very small band gap?

Solution: A material with a very small band gap behaves like a semiconductor, allowing some charge carriers to be thermally excited.

Steps: 5

Step 1: Understand what a semiconductor is. A semiconductor is a material that can conduct electricity under certain conditions.
Step 2: Learn about the band gap. The band gap is the energy difference between the valence band (where electrons are) and the conduction band (where electrons can move freely).
Step 3: Recognize that a small band gap means that the energy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band is low.
Step 4: Realize that with a very small band gap, some electrons can gain enough thermal energy (heat) to jump into the conduction band even at room temperature.
Step 5: Conclude that because some charge carriers (electrons) can be excited to move freely, the material behaves like a semiconductor.