In
solid-state physics, the
valence band and
conduction band are the
bands closest to the
Fermi level and thus determine the
electrical conductivity of the solid. The valence band is the highest range of
electron energies in which electrons are normally present at
absolute zero temperature, while the conduction band is the lowest range of vacant electronic states. On a graph of the
electronic band structure of a material, the valence band is located below the Fermi level, while the conduction band is located above it. This distinction is meaningless in metals as the highest band is partially filled, taking on the properties of both the valence and conduction bands.