PN DIODES

Atif Imam Avinash Reddy Aviral Aggarwal Ayush Asthana Beeram Joshitha Reddy

SEMICONDUCTOR DIODE
Theory of p-n junction . p-n junction as diode. Ideal diode. Volt-Current characteristics. Diode biasing Different types of Diodes.

Theory of p-n junction

When a p-type semiconductor material is suitably joined to n-type semiconductor the contact surface is called a p-n junction.
P N

++

Depletion region

p-n junction as diode

Also called as semiconductor diode .

The left side material is a p-type semiconductor having negative acceptor ions and positevely charged holes. The right side material is n-type semiconductor having positive donor ions and free electrons .
Cathode

Anode

Symbol

Construction

 When forward biased, a diode acts as a conductor and current flows When reverse biased, a diode acts as an insulator and no current flows.

Forward Biased

Reverse Biased

IDEAL DIODE
When the diode is ON, it acts like a short circuit and current flow
When the diode is OFF, current is zero, so it acts like an open circuit

V/I CHARACTERISTICS

Diode Biasing
Forward Biased
Short circuit

I
V R V R

Reverse Biased
Open circuit

I=0
V
R V R

Types of Diodes
Light Emitting Diode (LED) Avalanche Diode. Laser Diode. Schottky Diode. Zener Diode. Photo Diode. Varicap Diode or Varactor Diode. Rectifier Diode.

ZENER DIODE
It was named after Clarence Zener, who discovered this electrical property. It Permits current in the forward direction as well as in the reverse direction if the voltage is larger than the breakdown voltage or Zener knee voltage or Zener voltage.

USES
Zener Diode Shunt Regulator. Zener Diode as Peak Clipper. Switching operation.

USES OF ZENER DIODE

1. Zener Diode Shunt Regulator

2. Meter Protection

3. Zener Diode as Peak Clipper

4. Switching operation.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

Emits visible light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs are essentially pn diodes operated in forward bias.

Benefits Of LED:
Low power requirement. High efficiency. Long life.

Applications:
Indicator lights. LCD panel backlighting. Fiber optic data transmission. Remote control.

Photo Diode
A type of photo detector capable of converting light into either current or voltage. Designed to operate in reverse bias.
Incident light Front Contact

Insulation p+ Active Area Depletion region n- region n+ Back Diffusion Back Metalization

Absorbtion in the depletion layer causes current to flow across the photodiode and if the diode is reverse biased considerable current flow will be induced
Rear Contact

USES :
Used in: CD Players. Smoke Detectors. Light sensors Various medical applications, such as detectors for computer tomography and pulse oximeters.

Tunnel Diode (Esaki Diode)

It was introduced by Leo Esaki in 1958.

Heavily-doped p-n junction

Impurity

concentration is 1 part in 10^3 as compared to 1 part in 10^8 in p-n junction diode

Width of the depletion layer is very small (about 100 A).

It is generally made up of Ge and GaAs.

Thank You !