eV to Volts Calculator

About the eV to Volts Calculator

An electronvolt to volts calculator converts particle energy in electronvolts (eV) to equivalent voltage — a fundamental conversion in particle physics, semiconductor physics, and radiation science that bridges the quantum energy scale with classical electrical quantities. One electronvolt is defined as the kinetic energy gained by a single electron when accelerated through a potential difference of exactly one volt, making the conversion between eV and voltage straightforward for single-electron systems: 1 eV corresponds to 1 V. For multi-charge particles (protons carry +1e, alpha particles +2e, uranium ions with various charge states), the voltage required to accelerate a particle to a given eV energy scales inversely with charge number. Our calculator handles both the simple case (electron, n=1) and multi-charge particles, and also shows the energy in joules, kiloelectronvolts (keV), megaelectronvolts (MeV), and gigaelectronvolts (GeV) for cross-reference. Relevant for nuclear and particle physics students, semiconductor engineers working with band gaps and work functions, radiation protection specialists, and anyone dealing with energized charged particles.

How It Works

For a single electron: Voltage = eV value (numerically equal). 1 eV of energy requires 1V of accelerating potential for an electron. For multi-charge particles: V = eV_energy / charge_number. Conversely: Energy (eV) = Voltage × charge_number. SI conversion: 1 eV = 1.60218 × 10⁻¹⁹ J. Example 1 (semiconductor): silicon band gap = 1.12 eV. This means a photon must have energy ≥ 1.12 eV to create an electron-hole pair. Equivalent photon frequency: f = E/h = 1.12 × 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ / 6.626×10⁻³⁴ = 2.71×10¹⁴ Hz (near-infrared). Example 2 (X-ray tube): A 100 kV dental X-ray tube accelerates electrons through 100,000V. Maximum X-ray photon energy = 100 keV = 100,000 eV = 100,000 × 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ J = 1.602×10⁻¹⁴ J. Example 3 (proton therapy): 230 MeV proton beam for cancer treatment. Equivalent accelerating voltage = 230,000,000V = 230 MV (though cyclotrons achieve this through repeated small accelerations).

Tips & Best Practices

• ✓Semiconductor band gaps in eV: Si = 1.12 eV; Ge = 0.67 eV; GaAs = 1.42 eV; GaN = 3.4 eV; diamond = 5.5 eV; SiC = 3.26 eV. Higher band gap = less thermally generated leakage current at room temperature, enabling higher operating temperatures (GaN, SiC power devices for EVs and 5G).
• ✓Photon energy and wavelength: E(eV) = 1240 / λ(nm). Visible light: 400nm (violet) = 3.1 eV; 700nm (red) = 1.77 eV. This means silicon (1.12 eV gap) responds to all visible and near-IR light, while GaN (3.4 eV) requires UV photons — explaining why GaN LEDs produce blue/UV light.
• ✓Radiation protection: X-rays and gamma rays are measured in keV or MeV. Typical diagnostic X-ray photons: 20-150 keV. Cobalt-60 gamma rays (used in radiation therapy): 1.17 and 1.33 MeV. Converting to volts: 1.17 MeV gamma = 1,170,000 eV = 1,170,000V equivalent accelerating potential for an electron.

Who Uses This Calculator

Physics students working on quantum mechanics, atomic physics, and nuclear physics problem sets. Semiconductor engineers analyzing band gap energies, photodetector cutoff wavelengths, and junction potentials. Radiation protection specialists relating particle beam energies to equivalent accelerating voltages. Medical physicists calculating X-ray tube energy spectra and maximum photon energies for dose calculations.