The cut off voltage for diode of silicon semiconductor and germanium s...
The cut off voltage is the voltage only after which the semiconductors conduct, the cut off voltage for silicon is 0.7V in the sense the silicon diode will conduct only when voltage is more than 0.7V and 0.3 for germanium.
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The cut off voltage for diode of silicon semiconductor and germanium s...
The cut-off voltage for a diode is the minimum voltage required for the diode to start conducting current in the forward direction. The cut-off voltage is different for different semiconductor materials, such as silicon and germanium.
Silicon Semiconductor:
- The cut-off voltage for a silicon diode is typically around 0.7 volts.
- This means that when the forward voltage across the silicon diode is less than 0.7 volts, the diode will not conduct current.
- However, as soon as the forward voltage exceeds 0.7 volts, the diode starts conducting and allows current to flow through it.
Germanium Semiconductor:
- The cut-off voltage for a germanium diode is typically around 0.3 volts.
- This means that when the forward voltage across the germanium diode is less than 0.3 volts, the diode will not conduct current.
- However, as soon as the forward voltage exceeds 0.3 volts, the diode starts conducting and allows current to flow through it.
Comparison:
- From the above information, it can be observed that the cut-off voltage for silicon semiconductor is higher than that of germanium semiconductor.
- This difference in cut-off voltage is primarily due to the different energy band structures of silicon and germanium materials.
- In silicon, the energy bandgap is larger compared to germanium, which results in a higher cut-off voltage for silicon diodes.
- Germanium has a smaller energy bandgap, which allows it to start conducting at a lower voltage.
Conclusion:
The cut-off voltage for a silicon diode is typically around 0.7 volts, while for a germanium diode it is typically around 0.3 volts. It is important to consider the cut-off voltage when designing and working with diode circuits to ensure proper operation.
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