Hot electron

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-005406",
  "term": "Hot electron",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A charge carrier, specifically an electron, in a solid that possesses a kinetic energy significantly greater than the thermal energy of the atoms in the material's crystal lattice. This non-equilibrium state occurs when an electron is accelerated by a strong electric field or excited by high-energy photons. A hot electron is not in thermal equilibrium with the lattice, which remains at a lower temperature.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "lattice"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2022, 94, 15. 'Glossary of terms relating to electronic, photonic and magnetic properties of polymers (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)' on page 35 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2020-0501)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/hot-electron/"
}