PHYSICS

PRESENTATION

NAME: NANDINI GUPTA

BRANCH: IT-3
ENROLLMENT NO. : 01576803123
Zener Diode
 Content

• What is Zener Diode?

• Construction
• Working
• applications
 What is Zener Diode?

A Zener diode is a type of P-N junction diode

DIRECTIONthat
OF is designed to operate in the
ELECTRIC CURRENT
reverse breakdown region of its voltage-current characteristic curve. Unlike regular
diodes, which are designed to conduct current in the forward direction and block it
in the reverse direction, Zener diodes are engineered to conduct current in the
reverse direction once a certain voltage threshold, called the Zener voltage, is
reached.

When a Zener diode is reverse-biased and the voltage across it exceeds the Zener
voltage, it begins to conduct current, allowing it to regulate voltage levels
effectively. This makes Zener diodes widely used in voltage regulation circuits,
voltage reference circuits, surge protection, and voltage stabilization applications.
 Applications? The principle behind the operation of a Zener
diode is known as the Zener effect.

SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF ZENER EFFECT

• Reverse bias: When a Zener diode is reverse-biased (meaning the voltage applied
across it is in the opposite direction of the diode's forward direction), there is initially
very little current flowing through the diode.
2. Zener breakdown: As the reverse voltage increases, it eventually reaches the Zener
voltage (also known as the breakdown voltage). At this point, the electric field across
the depletion region of the diode becomes strong enough to cause electron-hole pairs
to be generated by quantum tunneling. These carriers create a large number of charge
carriers, leading to a rapid increase in current.

3. Voltage regulation: Once the Zener breakdown occurs, the voltage across the diode
remains relatively constant, even if the applied voltage increases further. This is
because the Zener diode conducts in reverse breakdown, effectively clamping the
voltage across it to the Zener voltage.
Construction The Zener diode is constructed in a few different ways
such as the diffused structure, diffused and passivated
structure, and alloy diffused structure.In this design, two
N and P-type substrates are diffused together. On both
sides, a metallic layer is used to form the cathode and
anode terminals. Silicon oxide SiO2 layer is used to
cover the junction regions and to prevent the
contamination of the junction.
The structure of passivated Zener diode has its junction’s
edges covered with a SiO2 layer. While the structure of
alloy diffused Zener diode has all its junctions covered
by SiO2 layer. The passivated structure offers better
performance at higher voltage while the passivated
structure offers better performance at lower voltages.
 Working

Zener diode can operate in both forward and reverse bias. In forward bias, it acts as a normal
diode with nominal forward voltage drop and a large current flow. While in reverse bias, it
blocks current flow until the applied voltage reaches the Zener breakdown voltage. This region
is known as the Zener breakdown region and the Zener diode is specifically designed to
operate in this region. The current starts to increase with an increase in the applied voltage
while the voltage across the Zener remains the same.
The Zener voltage of the diode depends on the doping level which can be adjusted during the
manufacturing of the Zener diode. The sudden increase in reverse current in a Zener diode is
due to either one or both of the following effects.
 Characteristics

The IV characteristic curve shows the relation between the

current and the voltage across the Zener diode. The given curve shows the
operation of the Zener diode in both forward bias and reverse bias.
In forward bias, whenWITHthe applied voltage is lower than the
THE HELP OF YOUR TEACHER OR CARER,
threshold voltage, the
diode does not
TEST WHETHER allow
YOUR current through
SUGGESTIONS it but only
AND DRAWINGS the small
WILL MAKE leakage
THE BULB current.
LIGHT Once
USING ACTUAL
BATTERIES, A SMALL LIGHTBULB, AND WIRES.
the applied voltage crosses the threshold limit, the current increases suddenly
while the voltage remains constant. The forward bias operation in the Zener
diode is the same as in any normal diode.
 In reverse bias, the diode
does not allow current (but
only a small leakage
current) until the voltage
reaches the Zener
breakdown voltage. In this
WITH THE HELP OF YOUR TEACHER OR
region, theCARER,
current through
TEST WHETHER YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND
DRAWINGStheWILL
diode flows
MAKE THEin theLIGHT
BULB
USINGreverse
ACTUAL direction.
BATTERIES, A SMALL
The
LIGHTBULB, AND WIRES.
value of the Zener voltage
is determined by the
doping concentration in the
diode.
 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
The following figure shows the circuit diagram for connecting a Zener diode which is connected in
parallel to the load.

A voltage source higher than the

Zener voltage is used with a Zener
diode and a current limiting resistor
in series to maintain current. The
Zener diode helps regulate voltage
in circuits by keeping the load
voltage constant.
 The Zener diode is available with various
Specifications of Zener Diode specifications and they are used for
different requirements. Therefore it is
necessary to know the basic specs of a
Zener diode.

• Zener Voltage :The Zener voltage Vz is the reverse breakdown voltage or the Zener breakdown
voltage. It is the reference voltage that appears across the Zener diode in reverse biased. It can
range from 2.4V to 200V.

• Current : The rated Zener current is the maximum current the diode can allow at the rated Zener
voltage. It can range from 200 uA to 200A. The minimum current is the minimum current
required for the breakdown that ranges between 5 mA to 10 mA.
• Power Rating : This is the maximum rated power the diode can tolerate. It is the product of
Zener voltage and the current flowing through it. The power ratings of the Zener diode can range
between 400 mW and 5 W.
 ADV & DISADV
OF ZENER DIODE?

Advantages: Disadvantages:

• It cannot handle a very

1 .Zener diode protects
from voltage spikes and large current.
over-voltage. 2. It provides a fixed output
2. It is smaller in size. voltage that cannot be
3. It can easily and changed.
efficiently stabilize the 3. The Zener current
voltage. depends on the load current.
 Applications
• As Voltage Regulator A voltage regulator or stabilizer is a circuit that provides a
stabilized and constant voltage even if the source voltage fluctuates or spikes. It
removes or eliminates the fluctuations or voltage spikes that may damage the
sensitive load connected to it.
A Zener is connected in parallel with the load to provide regulated voltage while a series
resistor is used to maintain and limit the current flowing through the diode. The load voltage is
the same as the Zener voltage VZ of the Zener diode.
• As Switch Similar to a diode, its impedance changes with the level of the
applied voltage. Due to such transition in impedance, it is used as a switch in
certain devices.
• Reference Signal As the Zener provide a constant voltage, it is used
as a reference signal for comparing voltage signal.
• Multimeter Protection Multimeters are sensitive electronic devices
that are often connected in the wrong configuration to high voltage
or high current circuits. In such cases, a very high current flow
through the meter can damage it. Therefore, a Zener diode
connected in parallel is used to divert the excess current and protect
the device from damage.
T ha nk
y o u !