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Semiconductor diodes are diodes which are composed of semiconducting materials. Semiconductors are essential materials that are the foundation of modern-day electronic devices (radios, computers, mobiles, etc). Semiconductor diode is composed of semiconductor components, like silicon. They perform as insulators as well as conductors. Semiconductors play an integral role in the functioning of electronics and its flexible nature allows for the creation of varied electronic devices to suit specific requirements and special capabilities.
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Key Terms: Semiconductors, Semiconductor electronics, Diode, Semiconductor Diode, Schottky Diode, Zener Diode, Laser Diode, LED Diode
What is a Diode?
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Diode is an electronic component that primarily conducts electricity in one direction. They have two terminals and display low resistance to the flow of current. Diodes have high resistance at one end and low resistance at the other end. They protect circuits by limiting the voltage and transform AC to DC.
Diode
Semiconductor Electronics Class 12 Important Notes PDF
Semiconductor Electronics Class 12 Important Notes
Also Read:
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| Junction Transistor | Digital Electronics and Logic Gates | Extrinsic Semiconductors |
| Varactor diode | Bridge Rectifier | Application of Junction Diode |
What is a Semiconductor Diode?
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Semiconductor Diode is a p-n junction that has metallic contacts at both of its ends in order to apply external voltage. It is a p-n junction diode. It has the ability to conduct current in only one direction. The symbol that is used to represent a p-n junction is –
P-n Junction Diode Symbol
The arrow in the above figure indicates the direction of the current. This is when the diode is in a forward bias.
Semiconductor Diode
Diode under Forward bias
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When an external voltage is applied across the p-n junction diode, such that the p side of the junction is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and its n side is connected to the negative terminal of the battery. Hence, the junction is forward biased.
Diode Under Forward Basis
Here, the barrier’s height gets reduced as the diode’s built-in potential and depletion region’s width decreases. Here, the overall voltage of the barrier turns out to be V0-V. V0-V is the difference between the built-in and the applied potential. When a small voltage is supplied, only a small number of carriers of current cross the junction. If the applied potential is increased significantly, there will be more reduction in the barrier height and therefore more number of current carriers crosses the junction.
Diode Under Reverse Bias
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A junction is said to be reverse-biased when the n side is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and the p side is connected to the negative terminal of the battery.
Diode Under Reverse Bias
Now, when we apply an external voltage across the diode, the sum of total barrier voltage becomes V0+V as here the direction of external voltage is in the same direction as the direction of barrier potential. The depletion region’s width increases and hence the motion current carriers that move from one side of the junction to the other one significantly reduce.
Types of Semiconductor Diode
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The various types of semiconductor diodes are:
- Rectifier Diode
- Zener Diode
- Step Recovery Diode
- Point Contact Diode
- Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
- Light Emitting Diode (LED)
- Gunn Diode
- Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) Diode
- Thermal or Peltier Diode
- Point Contact Diode
Different Types of Semiconductor Diode
Frequently Asked Questions on Semiconductor DiodeQues. What is the function of a Diode in a Rectifier Circuit? (1 mark) Ans. Diode is known to permit current in the forwarding bias conditions and further blocks the current in the reverse bias condition. In other words, diode allows the flow of current in one direction. This characteristic of the diode helps it to serve as a Rectifier by converting Alternating Current to DC source. Ques. State the most important application of a semiconductor diode. (1 mark) Ans. One of the most important applications of a semiconductor diode is the rectification of AC power to DC power. Diodes can help the construction of different types of rectifier circuits. |
Characteristics of Semiconductor Diode
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When the current exceeds the threshold of forward voltage, the current in the semiconductor diode starts to conduct.
Characteristics of Semiconductor Diode
Experimental circuit arrangement for studying V-I characteristics of a p-n junction diode
(a) in forward bias, (b) in reverse bias. (c) Typical V-I characteristics of a silicon diode
Applications of Semiconductor Diode
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Semiconductor diodes pass current in one direction. The applications of semiconductor diode are:
- Semiconductor Diodes are used for mixing signals.
- They are used for controlling the size of signals.
- Light Emitting Diode(LED) is used for emitting a spectrum of infrared light.
- A switching diode is used for requirements of rapid switching.
- A photodiode is used as a photodetector.
- For rectifying voltage and turning it into DC or AC.
- For the rectification of alternating current, rectifier diodes are used.
- For stabilizing the current and voltage in various electronic systems, Zener diodes are used.
- High-frequency electronics also make use of Gunn diode as one of its components.
- When the applied voltage is in a reverse-biased condition, a variable capacitance diode is used there.
- Diodes are used for isolating signals from a whole supply.
Previous Year Questions
- In the given circuit, the current through zener diode is … [JEE Mains 2018]
- What is the conductivity of a semiconductor sample having electron concentration … [JEE Mains 2017]
- A junction diode has a resistance of … [WBJEE 2009]
- A p−n photodiode is made of a material with a band gap of 2eV … [NEET 2008]
- A n−p−n transistor is connected to common emitter configuration … [NEET 2016]
- Consider the junction diode as ideal … [NEET 2016]
- For the given circuit of p-n junction diode … [NEET 2008]
- In a junction diode the holes due … [NEET 1999]
- In a p−n junction diode, change in temperature … [NEET 2018]
- The current voltage relation of diode is given by I … [JEE Mains 2014]
- Ge and Si diodes start conducting at 0.3V and 0.7V respectively … [JEE Mains 2019]
- Pure Si at 500K has equal number of electron … [NEET 2011]
- Pure silicon doped with phosphorus is a…
- If the rms value of sinusoidal input to a full wave rectifier is...[KEAM]
- Identify the mismatched pair from….[KEAM ]
- For a Zener diode...[KEAM]
- A common emitter amplifier gives an output of...[KEAM]
- The electrical conductivity of an intrinsic semiconductor at 0K is…
- In n- p-n transistor, the collector current is 10 mA….[KEAM]
- The principle of LASER action involves…. [KCET 2007]
Things to Remember
- Semiconductors are essential materials that are the foundation of modern-day electronic devices (radios, computers, mobiles, etc.).
- They perform as insulators as well as conductors.
- Semiconductors play an integral role in the functioning of electronics and their flexible nature allows for the creation of varied electronic devices to suit specific requirements and special capabilities.
- Semiconductor Diodes are used for mixing signals.
- They are used for controlling the size of signals.
- Light Emitting Diode(LED) is used for emitting a spectrum of infrared light.
- A switching diode is used for requirements of rapid switching.
Also Read:
Sample Questions
Ques: What is a semiconductor diode? (1 mark)
Ans. A semiconductor diode is a p-n junction that has metallic contacts at both of its ends in order to apply external voltage and thus it has the ability to conduct current in only one direction.
Ques. How can we say a diode is forward biased? (1 mark)
Ans. The junction is forward biased when an external voltage is applied across the p-n junction diode, such that the p side of the junction is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and its n side is connected to the negative terminal of the battery.
Ques. State three applications of the semiconductor diode. (3 marks)
Ans. Any three applications of the semiconductor diode are:
- A variable capacitance diode is used when the voltage applied is reverse biased.
- A photodiode is used as a photo detector.
- Light Emitting Diode(LED) is used for emitting a spectrum of infrared light.
Ques. Name the various types of Semiconductor Diodes. (5 mark)
Ans. The types of semiconductor diodes include:
- Rectifier Diode
- Zener Diode
- Step Recovery Diode
- Point Contact Diode
- Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
- Thermal or Peltier Diode
- Point Contact Diode
Ques. Define Diode. (1 mark)
Ans. Diode is an electronic component that conducts electricity in one direction alone. They have two terminals and display low resistance to the flow of current.
Ques. Define Zero Bias condition in p-n junction diode. (1 mark)
Ans. In p-n junction diode, the Zero bias condition can be found when no external voltage is seen to be applied to the p-n junction diode.
Ques. What is the purpose of a semiconductor? (2 marks)
Ans. Semiconductor usually lies between the conductor and insulator. It helps to manage and control the flow of current in any given electronic tool or equipment. It is popularly used as a component in electronic chips that are made for the purpose of computing.
Ques. How can we say a diode is reverse biased? (1 mark)
Ans. A junction is said to be reverse-biased when the n side is seen to be connected to the positive terminal of the battery while the p side is connected to the negative terminal of the battery.
Ques. Site an example of a diode in reverse bias. (1 mark)
Ans. One of the major examples of a diode in reverse bias is when a Zener diode is seen to be used for voltage regulation purposes. The connection it is found in is reverse bias.
Ques. How is a diode composed? (1 mark)
Ans. Diodes are generally constructed by joining the p- and n-type semiconductor materials. While composition, the doped regions are made to meet one another to form a p-n junction.
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