PN JUNCTION & DIODE

By: Omar Ahmed Mohamed Rashad

FACULTY OF COMPUTERS & INFORMATION SUEZ UNIVERSITY
ELECTRONICS
Under Supervision of : Dr. Ehab AL-Falaky
 Topics
- What is PN Junction?
- Definition
- History
- Formation of P-N junction
- Depletion Region
- Types of Biasing
- What is Diode?
- Definition
- History of Diode
- How to Connect a Diode in a Circuit?
- How a Diode Works?
- Types of Diodes
- Advantages & Disadvantages of Diode
- References
What is a PN Junction?
Definition
It is the contact surface between a p-type and an n-type semiconductor.

History
The inven on of the p–n junc on is usually a ributed to American
physicist Russell Ohl of Bell Laboratories in 1939. Two years later
(1941), Vadim Lashkaryov reported discovery of p–n junc ons in Cu2O and
silver sulfide photocells and selenium rec fiers.

Formation of p-n junction:

1. p-n junction is formed using the p-type and n-type semiconductor of same
material.
2. When the two semiconductors are brought in contact, electrons diffuse from
n-side to p-side and holes diffuse from p-side to n-side near the junction.
3. As this happens, the region near the boundary becomes depleted of majority
charge carriers and atoms near the junction become ionized. This region is
called the space-charge region or depletion region.
4. Ionized donor atoms are positively charged and ionized acceptor atoms are
negatively charged.
5. This causes drift of electrons in a direction opposite to the direction of diffusion
until the charge flow stops.
Depletion region
Depletion region is a region near the boundary of a p-n junction region.
Atoms in the depletion region are depleted by (majority) charge carriers and
are ionized. Both the processes of drift and diffusion occur in the depletion
region in opposite directions.

Types Of Biasing
1- Forward Biasing

In forward biasing, the external voltage supply is applied across the PN-
junction diode. This voltage cuts the potential barrier and provides a low
resistance way to the flow of current. The meaning of the forward bias is the
connection of the positive region to the p-terminal of the supply, while the
negative region is joined to the n-type of the device.
2- Reverse Biasing:

In reversed bias, there is a connection between the negative region and the
positive terminal of the battery, and the positive region is joined to the
negative terminal. The reverse potential boosts the strength of the potential
barrier in this situation. The potential barrier resists the charge carrier flow
across the junction. It builds a high resistive path that no current flows in the
circuit.

3- Zero Biasing:

Voltage has not been applied to the diode, in zero biasing condition.

In zero biasing conditions, there is a thermal equilibrium in the diode.

The natural poten al barrier is present in the diode, which is 0.5V to 0.7V for
silicon and for germanium this poten al barrier is 0.3V.
What is a Diode?
Defini on
A diode is a component that lets current flow in one direction and blocks it
from flowing in the other direction. It has two pins: an anode and cathode.

The diode symbol looks like an arrow pointing toward a line. The line
represents the cathode side, and so does the line marking on the diode
component itself.

History of Diode
The History of diodes dates to 1900 when thermionic diodes and
semiconductor diodes were made for radio.

Vacuum tube diodes were the trendiest items of early 1950, being used and
altered by several scientists through different experiments such as Fredrick
Guthrie and Thomas Edison.

Fleming valve was the first recognized diode of its age with all the elements
present in a diode in the true sense.

In World War 2, crystal diodes and Crystal rectifiers were used intensively in
radar systems which led to extreme usage and development in the diode
world, all thanks to their wide window of utility.
How To Connect a Diode in a Circuit?

A diode will block or let current flow, depending on how you connect it in a
circuit. Below you can see an example circuit.

In the circuit above the diode is connected in the right direction. This means
current can flow through it so that the LED will light up.

But what happens if we connect it the other way around?

In this second circuit, the diode is connected the wrong way. This means that
no current will flow in the circuit and the LED will be turned OFF.
What Is a Diode Used For?

A standard diode can be used for a range of things, from creating sound
effects to power supplies. Below you can see a few circuit examples with an
explanation of what the diode is used for:

1. Sound Effects Clipping: By placing two diodes in parallel in opposite

directions, you can get a clipping effect which creates an overdrive sound
effect, often used in guitar pedals.

2. Converting from AC to DC: Sometimes diodes are used to convert from AC

to DC by placing four diodes to create a bridge rectifier. This is often used
after a transformer in a power supply, followed by a voltage regulator.
3. Protecting from voltage spikes: Components like motors and relays are
basically inductors, which means their current will try to keep on flowing after
the power is shut off. Diodes are used to safely discharge them.

4. Boolean Logic Gates: Diode logic gates were used a lot in the earlier
production of computers when other available options were not cost-
effective.

5. Inverter Technology: You must be aware of the inverter technology used in

modern appliances; they make use of rectifiers which convert the alternating
current into direct current.

6. Signal Demodulation: Signal demodulation is carried out by the diode,

usually for radio signals.

7. Electronics: From transistors and rectifiers to Light emitting diodes and an

endless spectrum of usage, diodes have a significant place in electronics.
 8. Bypass Diodes in Solar Panels: Hot spot heating is one of the many
problems faced by the solar system, the solar cell gets damaged due to the
low output in presence of shade, dust or snow or any other factors hindering
the sunlight to the solar cell.

To protect the faulty cell, bypass diodes are used.

9. Diodes in Radiology: Laser diodes are the ones used for purposes like
medical purposes.

How a Diode Works?

The diode is created from a PN junction. You get a PN junction by taking a

negatively doped and positively doped semiconductor material and putting it
together.

At the intersection of these two materials, a depletion region appears. This

depletion region acts as an insulator and refuses to let any current pass.
 When you apply a positive voltage from the positive side to the negative side,
the depletion layer between the two materials disappears and the current
can flow from the positive to the negative side.

When you apply a voltage in the other direction, from the negative to the
positive side, the depletion region expands and resists any current flowing.

Types Of Diodes:

Rectifier Diode

The rectifier diode is typically used for rectifying alternating current (AC) to
direct current (DC). They can usually handle big currents and voltages.
Sometimes referred to as power diodes.
Signal Diode

The signal diode works the same way as the rectifier diode. But it can only
handle small currents and voltages. It is faster than the rectifier diode and is
sometimes referred to as a high-speed diode.

The most typical signal diode is the 1N4148.

Zener Diode

The Zener diode is a component that will become very conductive (meaning
that it will allow lots of current) for a certain voltage. This voltage is called the
Zener voltage.

What this means is that the voltage drops over the Zener diode will not exceed
the Zener voltage. The Zener diode is often used as a stable voltage reference.

Schottky Diode

The Schottky diode is very similar to a standard small-signal diode. The

difference is that the Schottky diode has a lower voltage drop over its
terminals. Normal diodes have about 0.7V voltage drop, but the Scho ky has
only 0.3V.

It is also much faster and is therefore often used in RF circuits.

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

A light emitting diode or LED is a diode that emits light when forward biased.
It is available in several different colors, even ultra-violet and infrared.
Photodiode

A photodiode is a diode that conducts when it detects light. Could be used to

receive the infrared signals from a remote control.

PIN Diode

A PIN diode is a semiconductor diode having a wide undoped semiconductor

region sandwiched between heavily doped n-type and p-type regions.

Laser Diode

A laser diode works exactly opposite to the photodiode, it converts the

voltage into high-intensity coherent light.

Gunn Diode

The Gunn diode is a transferred electron device TED, which works on the Gunn
effect, named after a scientist. It's a negative differential resistance device.

Vacuum Diode

It is the simplest form of the diode and works on the principle of thermionic
emission. It does not have a PN junction, which are present in the modern-
day diodes, it's an old school one!

Varactor Diode (Varicap Diode)

Varactor diode is made up of two things, a diode and a variable capacitor.

They are used as voltage-controlled capacitors.
Tunnel Diode (Esaki Diode)

Tunnel diode as the name suggests works on the principle of tunneling,

based on quantum mechanical effects.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Diode

Advantages of Diode

 Diodes are compact in size and compa ble.

 Designing electronic circuits is simple with certain diodes like Zener diodes.
 Diodes help in controlling the current flow.
 These diodes produce less unwanted noise.
 Certain diodes like Scho ky diodes can operate at high frequencies.
 Light emi ng diodes are highly efficient compared to other diodes and they
can emit light of the expected colors.
 Operates at high switching speed.

Disadvantages of Diodes

 Power dissipa on is more for Zener diodes and hence it is less efficient for
heavy loads.
 Diodes are highly sensi ve to temperature.
 Amplifica on is necessary in photodiode-based circuits.
 Light emi ng diodes are expensive compared to other diodes.
 Certain diodes like Scho ky diodes have low maximum reverse voltage.
 They have high reverse current and impedance.
References
- What is a p-n Junction? Toshiba’s chapter 1 (Basis of Semiconductors)
of Basic Knowledge of Discrete Semiconductor Device.
www.Toshiba.semicon-storage.com
- P-N Junction
www.wikipedia.org
- What are the Differences Between Forward and Reverse Biasing? By Linquip
Team / May 30, 2021.
www.linquip.com
- P-N Junction, p-n Junction Diode, (Semiconductor Electronics: Materials,
Devices and Simple Circuits), Physics, Class 12
www.toppr.com

- Diode – History, Operation Modes, VI Characteristics, Types & Applications By

Laxmi Ashrit
www.electricalfundablog.com
- Diode: Definition, Symbol, Working, Characteristics, Types and Applications
Author: Richard Davis, Posted at: 22 - Jun – 2021
www.theengineeringprojects.com
- Types of Diodes
September 10, 2013, By Øyvind Nydal Dahl
www.build-electronic-circuits.com