# Fermi Level: chemical potential vs. electrochemical potential

In solid-state physics it is understood that the Fermi-Level is the electrochemical potential.

The Fermi-Level is defined to:

However, in thermodynamics this formula is referred to as the chemical potential. [e.g. G Job and F Herrmann, Chemical potential—a quantity in search of recognition, Eur. J. Phys. 27 (2006) 353–371, Equation (10)]

In literature on solid state physics [e.g. Sze], I can not find a reasoning why the Fermi-Level should also reflect the electric potential in addition to the chemical potential.

For the electric potential I would expect a solution to Poisson's Equation to be part of the definition for the Fermi-Level, which obviously is not the case.

I am wondering if there is proof for the Fermi-Level is the electrochemical potential, and not only the chemical potential.

• It is my experience that when it comes to Fermi levels and chemical potentials there is an awful confusion between physicist, material scientists and chemists and there is a sever abuse of notation between departments. In my mind I tend to think that the chemical potential can be split into distinct contributions and that the Fermi level is the total chemical potential. – AngusTheMan Aug 27 '15 at 10:50

Disclaimer : I'm not sure that the following is the exact/complete answer to the question but maybe these elements could help.

Equilibrium of a system under an external field

Let say that you have an open macroscopic system $\Sigma$ (composed of identical particles) which is under the influence of an external time-independant but space-dependant potentiel field $\phi(\textbf{x})$. One can slice the entire system in an ensemble of subsytems $\{\delta\Sigma\}$. At this point, $\phi$ is assumed to be smooth enough function of $\textbf{x}$ so that it can be considered as constant at the scale of these $\delta\Sigma$'s.

In the absence of external force, the particles contained in each $\delta\Sigma$ are described by the hamiltonian $\hat{\mathcal{H}}_0$ which eigenstates $\{\vert\ell\rangle\}_\ell$ are supposed to be known, giving then the corresponding eigen energies $E_\ell$. These $\vert\ell\rangle$ states should be eigenstates of the particle number operator $\hat{N}$, associated to the eigenvalue $N_\ell$. In such case, the grand canonical partition function reads : $$\Xi_0(\beta,\mu)=\text{Tr}\,e^{-\beta(\hat{\mathcal{H}}_0-\mu\hat{N})}$$ where $\beta$ is the temperature, $\mu$ is the chemical potential. The equilibrium condition states here that the temperature $\beta$ and $\mu$ have to be constant in the all system (the same in each $\delta\Sigma$).

Now in the presence of an external potential $\phi(\textbf{x})$, the new hamiltonian is $\hat{\mathcal{H}}=\hat{\mathcal{H}}_0+\hat{N}\phi(\textbf{x})$. For each sub-system $\delta\Sigma$, each $\vert\ell\rangle$ state has now an associated eigen energy $$E'_\ell=E_\ell+N_\ell\phi(\textbf{x})$$ In this case the partition function is then : $$\Xi(\beta,\mu,\textbf{x})=\text{Tr}\,e^{-\beta(\hat{\mathcal{H}}_0-\bar{\mu}(\textbf{x})\hat{N})}\equiv\Xi_0(\beta,\bar{\mu}(\textbf{x}))$$ where $\bar{\mu}(\textbf{x})=\mu-\phi(\textbf{x})$ is the local chemical potential. In that case, one can show that the equilibrium condition still constant chemical potential $\mu$ and temperature $\beta$. In particular, this implies that : $$\forall\textbf{x},\,\bar{\mu}(\textbf{x})+\phi(\textbf{x})=\mu=c^{st}$$

Application for an electronic gas under an external electric field $\textbf{E}_{ext}$

In this case, the external electrostatic potential $V_{ext}$ (defined as $\textbf{E}_{ext}=-\nabla V_{ext}$) is associated to a local charge distribution $\rho_{ext}$ through a Poisson equation : $$\Delta V_{ext}+\frac{\rho_{ext}}{\epsilon_0}=0$$ In reaction to this external potential, electron will generate an internal charge density $\rho_{in}$ (this mechanism is at the origin of the screening effects). To $\rho_{in}$ can be associated an electrostatic potential $V_{in}$ via a Poisson equation as well.

Finally, the total electrostatic potential inside the metal is : $$V(\textbf{x})=V_{ext}(\textbf{x})+V_{in}(\textbf{x})$$ The equilibrium condition is then : $$\forall\textbf{x},\,\bar{\mu}(\textbf{x})-eV(\textbf{x})=\mu=c^{st}$$

The origin of the confusion?

I think that this last equation maybe the origin of the confusion. A priori, in the way it is defined in the partition function $\Xi$, the local chemical potential $\bar{\mu}$ does entail an electrostatic contribution. Conversly, by definition $\mu$ does not entail any electrostatic contribution.

However, in the special case where one considere an equilibrium configuration, the only intensive experimental accessible value of the chemical potential is $\mu$ (not $\bar{\mu}$). And in that case, spatial variations of $\bar{\mu}$ exactly compensate variations of $V$ in order to have a constant $\mu$. In that very special case I think that people would call $\mu$ the "electrochemical potential" because of the $-eV(\textbf{x})$ contribution in the last equation. But it should be kept in mind that it is just an artifact of considering an equilibrium state of the system.

So now, in the background of semiconductors physics, the following has quite convinced myself that the Fermi level $E_F$ is $\mu$ and not $\bar{\mu}$.

• Your derivation is quite sophisiticated. Please give me some time to think about it. A question in the meantime: Did you find this on your own or can I find addional reading in text books? – Sweetheart Aug 29 '15 at 9:11
• I have been going through your answer several times. However, I can not see how your answer is linked to common definition for the Fermi-Level I have stated in my question. If the Fermi-Level as stated by me really is the eletrochemical potential, then it must be able to transform this equation into a chemical potential part and an electric potential part. Further, I would expect the eletric potential part to be a solution to Poisson's Equation. Does that make sense? – Sweetheart Aug 29 '15 at 13:09
• @Torro Litteraly any advanced statistical mechanics book would give you this derivation (and more). I don't have any particular reference, it is really basic equilibrium statistical mechanics. – dolun Aug 31 '15 at 8:20
• @Torro I tried to show that what people call "electrochemical potential" is precisely the quantity $\bar{\mu}-eV$ which has to be constant in an equilibrium configuration. But oftenly it seems to me that people confuses $\mu$ and $\bar{\mu}$ as being or not the Fermi level. And, yeah, the link with the Poisson's equation is pretty straightforward : $$\Delta (V_{ext}+V_{in})+\frac{1}{\epsilon}(\rho_{ext}+\rho_{in})=0$$ – dolun Aug 31 '15 at 8:33