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    Electronics Devices and Circuits Semiconductor Diodes: P-N Junction Semiconductor Diode

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    hamid shah
    A p-n junction semiconductor diode is a two-terminal semiconductor device that allows current to flow easily in one direction but blocks it in the other. It is formed by joining a p-type semiconductor with an n-type semiconductor, creating a p-n junction. When forward biased, current flows from the p-type semiconductor to the n-type semiconductor. When reverse biased, the diode acts as an open switch and blocks current flow. P-n junction diodes are commonly made from silicon and are used to convert AC to DC in power supplies and act as electronic switches in digital logic circuits.

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    Electronics Devices and Circuits Semiconductor Diodes: P-N Junction Semiconductor Diode

    Uploaded by

    hamid shah
    147 views7 pages
    A p-n junction semiconductor diode is a two-terminal semiconductor device that allows current to flow easily in one direction but blocks it in the other. It is formed by joining a p-type semiconductor with an n-type semiconductor, creating a p-n junction. When forward biased, current flows from the p-type semiconductor to the n-type semiconductor. When reverse biased, the diode acts as an open switch and blocks current flow. P-n junction diodes are commonly made from silicon and are used to convert AC to DC in power supplies and act as electronic switches in digital logic circuits.

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    pn junction

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    P-N JUNCTION

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    A p-n junction semiconductor diode is a two-terminal semiconductor device that allows current to flow easily in one direction but blocks it in the other. It is formed by joining a p-type semiconductor with an n-type semiconductor, creating a p-n junction. When forward biased, current flows from the p-type semiconductor to the n-type semiconductor. When reverse biased, the diode acts as an open switch and blocks current flow. P-n junction diodes are commonly made from silicon and are used to convert AC to DC in power supplies and act as electronic switches in digital logic circuits.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    147 views7 pages

    Electronics Devices and Circuits Semiconductor Diodes: P-N Junction Semiconductor Diode

    Uploaded by

    hamid shah
    A p-n junction semiconductor diode is a two-terminal semiconductor device that allows current to flow easily in one direction but blocks it in the other. It is formed by joining a p-type semiconductor with an n-type semiconductor, creating a p-n junction. When forward biased, current flows from the p-type semiconductor to the n-type semiconductor. When reverse biased, the diode acts as an open switch and blocks current flow. P-n junction diodes are commonly made from silicon and are used to convert AC to DC in power supplies and act as electronic switches in digital logic circuits.

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    Electronics devices and circuits >> Semiconductor


    diodes >> P-N junction semiconductor diode

    P-N junction semiconductor diode

    What is p-n junction semiconductor diode?

    A p-n junction diode is two-terminal or two-


    electrode semiconductor device, which allows the electric
    current in only one direction while blocks the electric
    current in opposite or reverse direction. If the diode is
    forward biased, it allows the electric current flow. On the
    other hand, if the diode is reverse biased, it blocks the
    electric current flow. P-N junction semiconductor diode is
    also called as p-n junction semiconductor device.

    In n-type semiconductors, free electrons are the majority


    charge carriers whereas in p-type
    semiconductors, holes are the majority charge carriers.
    When the n-type semiconductor is joined with the p-type
    semiconductor, a p-n junction is formed. The p-n junction,
    which is formed when the p-type and n-type semiconductors
    are joined, is called as p-n junction diode.

    The p-n junction diode is made from the semiconductor


    materials such as silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide.
    For designing the diodes, silicon is more preferred over
    germanium. The p-n junction diodes made from silicon
    semiconductors works at higher temperature when
    compared with the p-n junction diodes made from
    germanium semiconductors.

    The basic symbol of p-n junction diode under forward bias


    and reverse bias is shown in the below figure
    In the above figure, arrowhead of a diode indicates the
    conventional direction of electric current when the diode is
    forward biased (from positive terminal to the negative
    terminal). The holes which moves from positive terminal
    (anode) to the negative terminal (cathode) is the
    conventional direction of current.

    The free electrons moving from negative terminal (cathode)


    to the positive terminal (anode) actually carry the electric
    current. However, due to the convention we have to assume
    that the current direction is from positive terminal to the
    negative terminal.

    Biasing of p-n junction semiconductor diode

    The process of applying the external voltage to a p-n


    junction semiconductor diode is called biasing. External
    voltage to the p-n junction diode is applied in any of the two
    methods: forward biasing or reverse biasing.

    If the p-n junction diode is forward biased, it allows the


    electric current flow. Under forward biased condition, the p-
    type semiconductor is connected to the positive terminal of
    battery whereas; the n-type semiconductor is connected to
    the negative terminal of battery.

    If the p-n junction diode is reverse biased, it blocks the


    electric current flow. Under reverse biased condition, the p-
    type semiconductor is connected to the negative terminal of
    battery whereas; the n-type semiconductor is connected to
    the positive terminal of battery.

    Terminals of pn junction diode

    Generally, terminal refers to a point or place at which any


    object begins or ends. For example, bus terminal or terminus
    is a place at which all the buses begins or ends. Similarly, in
    a  p-n junction diode, terminal refers a point at which
    charge carriers begins or ends.

    P-n junction diode consists of two terminals: positive and


    negative. At positive terminal, all the free electrons will
    ends and all the holes will begins whereas at negative
    terminal all the free electrons will begins and all the holes
    will ends.

     Terminals of diode under forward bias

    In forward biased p-n junction diode (p-type connected to


    positive terminal and n-type connected to negative
    terminal), anode terminal is a positive terminal whereas
    cathode terminal is negative terminal.

    Anode terminal is a positively charged electrode or


    conductor, which supplies holes to the p-n junction. In other
    words, anode or anode terminal or positive terminal is the
    source of positive charge carriers (holes), the positive
    charge carriers (holes) begins their journey at anode
    terminal and travel through the diode and ends at cathode
    terminal.
     

                

    Cathode is the negatively charged electrode or conductor,


    which supplies free electrons to the p-n junction. In other
    words, cathode terminal or negative terminal is the source
    of free electrons, the negative charge carriers (free
    electrons) begins their journey at cathode terminal and
    travel through the diode and ends at anode terminal.

    The free electrons are attracted towards the anode terminal


    or positive terminal whereas the holes are attracted towards
    the cathode terminal or negative terminal. 

     Terminals of diode under reverse bias

    If the diode is reverse biased (p-type connected to negative


    terminal and n-type connected to positive terminal), the
    anode terminal becomes a negative terminal whereas the
    cathode terminal becomes a positive terminal.
    Anode terminal or negative terminal supplies free electrons
    to the p-n junction. In other words, anode terminal is the
    source of free electrons, the free electrons begins their
    journey at negative or anode terminal and fills the large
    number of holes in the p-type semiconductor. The holes in
    the p-type semiconductor get attracted towards the
    negative terminal. The free electrons from the negative
    terminal cannot move towards the positive terminal because
    the wide depletion region at the p-n junction resists or
    opposes the flow of free electrons. 

                   

    Cathode terminal or positive terminal supplies holes to the


    p-n junction. In other words, cathode terminal is the source
    of holes, the holes begins their journey at positive or
    cathode terminal and occupies the electrons position in the
    n-type semiconductor. The free electrons in the n-type
    semiconductor gets attracted towards the positive terminal.
    The holes from the positive terminal cannot move towards
    the negative terminal because the wide depletion region at
    the p-n junction opposes the flow of holes.

    Silicon and germanium semiconductor diodes

     For designing the diodes, silicon is more preferred over


    germanium. 
     The p-n junction diodes made from silicon
    semiconductors works at high temperature than the
    germanium semiconductor diodes. 
     Forward bias voltage for silicon semiconductor diode is
    approximately 0.7 volts whereas for germanium
    semiconductor diode is approximately 0.3 volts. 
     Silicon semiconductor diodes do not allow the electric
    current flow, if the voltage applied on the silicon diode
    is less than 0.7 volts.
     Silicon semiconductor diodes start allowing the current
    flow, if the voltage applied on the diode reaches 0.7
    volts. 
     Germanium semiconductor diodes do not allow the
    electric current flow, if the voltage applied on the
    germanium diode is less than 0.3 volts. 
     Germanium semiconductor diodes start allowing the
    current flow, if the voltage applied on the germanium
    diode reaches 0.3 volts. 
     The cost of silicon semiconductors is low when
    compared with the germanium semiconductors.

    Advantages of p-n junction diode

    P-n junction diode is the simplest form of all the


    semiconductor devices. However, diodes plays a major role
    in many electronic devices.
     A p-n junction diode can be used to convert the
    alternating current (AC) to the direct current (DC).
    These diodes are used in power supply devices.

     If the diode is forward biased, it allows the current flow.


    On the other hand, if it is reverse biased, it blocks the
    current flow. In other words, the p-n junction diode
    becomes on when it is forward biased whereas the p-n
    junction diode becomes off when it is reversed biased
    (I.e. it acts as switch). Thus, the p-n junction diode is
    used as electronic switch in digital logic circuits.

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