Fermi Level - Other Terminology Problems

Other Terminology Problems

• Chemical potential and Electrochemical potential: In some parts of the literature the term "chemical potential" is used instead of "electrochemical potential". In the past there has been no consensus as to whether these two terms should mean the same thing. Some textbooks continue to make a distinction (and, worse, there are alternative conventions as to what each term means). The more modern view is that "chemical potential" should mean the same thing as "electrochemical potential", – but that in some contexts there is a separate concept – called here the "internal chemical potential" – that is the energy left when the "purely electrostatic component of electrochemical potential" is subtracted out. (In other contexts it may not be possible make a division into components in any sensible way.) In any case, it is usually only the total combined thermodynamic potential that can be measured. As already noted, it is thought less confusing here to use the name "electrochemical potential" for the total combined thermodynamic potential.

• Alternative uses of the name "Fermi energy". It is normal in solid-state physics to use the term "Fermi energy" as a name for ζ₀, as done here. However, particularly in semiconductor physics and engineering, the term "Fermi energy" is sometimes used as a synonym for "Fermi level".