Basic Electronics

BASIC ELECTRONICS
PHOTODIODES AND
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
Presented by
ASHA.R
22ECE011
Photodiode
Photodiodes are a class of diodes that converts light energy to electricity.
A photodiode is a PN-junction diode that consumes light energy to produce

an electric current.
Photodiode materials are Silicon, Germanium and Indium gallium arsenide.

• When a p n-junction is reverse biased,
there is a small reverse current due to
thermally generated holes and electrons
being attracted across the junction as
minority charge carriers.
• Increasing the junction temperature

generates more hole electron pairs, and
so the reverse current is increased.
• At an illumination level (H) of 5
mW/cm² IR is approximately 2.2
mA, and at H = 20 mW/cm² IR is 10
mA.
Increasing the reverse voltage does
not increase I significantly, so that
each characteristic is approximately a
horizontal line.
TYPES OF Photodiode
1. PN Photodiode
2. PIN Photodiode
3. Avalanche Photodiode
4. Schottky Photo Diode
1. PN Photodiode
The first developed type of photodiode is the PN type.
As compared with other types, its performance is not advanced, but at present, it is used in several
applications.
The photodetection mainly happens in the depletion region of the diode.
This diode is quite small but its sensitivity is not great as compared with others.
2. PIN Photodiode
At present, the most commonly used photodiode is a PIN type.
This diode gathers the light photons more powerfully as compared with standard PN
photodiode because the wide intrinsic area between the P and N regions allows for more
light to be collected, and in addition to this, it also offers a lower capacitance.
3. Avalanche Photodiode
This kind of diode is used in low light areas due to its high gain levels.
It generates high levels of noise. So this technology is not appropriate for all applications.
4. Schottky photodiode
The Schottky photodiode uses the Schottky diode, and it includes a small diode junction
that means, there is small junction capacitance so, it operates at high speeds.
Thus, this kind of photodiode is frequently utilized in high bandwidth (BW) optical
communication systems like fiber-optic links.
Construction
The photodiode is made using two semiconductors like P-type & N-type.
In this design, the formation of P-type material can be done from the diffusion of
the P-type substrate which is lightly doped.
So, the P+ ions layer can be formed because of the diffusion method.
 On the substrate of N-type, the N-type epitaxial layer can be grown.
 The development of a P+ diffusion layer can be done over the heavily doped N-type
epitaxial layer.
 The contacts are designed with metals to make two terminals like anode and cathode.
 The front region of the diode can be separated into two types like active & non-active
surfaces.
 On an active surface, the light rays can strike over it whereas, on a non-active surface,
the light rays cannot strike.
Working of photodiode
• A photodiode is subjected to photons in the form of light which affects the generation
of electron-hole pairs.
• If the energy of the falling photons (hv) is greater than the energy gap (E g) of the
semiconductor material, electron-hole pairs are created near the depletion region of the
diode.
• The direction of the electric field in the diode forces the electrons to move towards the
n-side and consequently the holes move towards the p-side.
• As a result of the increase in the number of electrons on the n-side and holes on the
p-side, a rise in the electromotive force is observed.
• The more the electromotive force created, the greater the current flow. The
magnitude of the electromotive force created depends directly upon the intensity of
the incident light.
APPLICATIONS OF PHOTODIODE
• Photodiodes are used in simple day-to-day applications. The reason for their prominent use is their
linear response of photodiode to light illumination.
• Photodiodes with the help of optocouplers provide electric isolation. When two isolated circuits are
illuminated by light, optocouplers are used to couple the circuit optically. Optocouplers are faster
compared to conventional devices.
• Photodiodes are used in numerous medical applications. They are used in instruments that analyze
samples, detectors for computed tomography and also used in blood gas monitors.
• Photodiodes are used in solar cell panels.
• Photodiodes are used in logic circuits.
• Photodiodes are used for the exact measurement of the intensity of light in science and industry.
Photomultipliers
• Photomultipliers, or photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), belong to a class of vacuum tubes
that convert photons into electric signal.
• PMTs are known for their ultra-fast response and high sensitivity. They are particularly
useful in low-intensity applications.
• Photomultiplier tubes can detect light and these tubes are used in applications such as
fluorescence and spectroscopy.
Working of Photomultipliers
• Photomultiplier tubes operate using photoelectric effect and secondary emission.
• When light is incident on the photocathode, it emits electrons into the vacuum
tube. These electrons are focused towards the electron multipliers (dynodes),
which multiply the signal by secondary emission. These multiplied electrons are
converted into an output signal by the anode.
APPLICATIONS OF Photomultipliers
• Spectrophotometers – fluorescence spectrophotometry, Raman spectroscopy
• Liquid gas chromatography
• X-Ray diffractometers
• Electron microscopes
• Pollution monitoring
• Medical diagnostics
• Photography
• Radiation monitors.
REFERENCES
1. https://www.elprocus.com/photodiode-working-principle-applications/
2. https://electronicscoach.com/photodiode.html
3. https://www.azooptics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=548
4. Electronic instrumentation and measurements(3rd edition) DAVID BELL
THANK YOU

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BASIC ELECTRONICS

A photodiode is a PN-junction diode that consumes light energy to produce

Photodiode materials are Silicon, Germanium and Indium gallium arsenide.

• Increasing the junction temperature

The photodetection mainly happens in the depletion region of the diode.

• Photodiodes are used in solar cell panels.

• Photodiodes are used in logic circuits.

• Liquid gas chromatography

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