Mott Insulator

Mott Insulator

Mott insulators are a class of materials that should conduct electricity under conventional band theories, but are insulators when measured (particularly at low temperatures). This effect is due to electron-electron interactions which are not considered in conventional band theory.

The bandgap in a Mott insulator exists between bands of like character, such as 3d character, while the bandgap in charge transfer insulators exists between anion and cation states (see lecture slides ), such as between O 2p and Ni 3d bands in NiO.