Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) PDF Download

Semiconductor Diode (p-n junction diode)

Majority carrier electrons in the n-region will begin diffusing into the p-region and majority carrier holes in the p-region will be diffusing into the n-region. If we assume there are no external excitation to the semiconductor, then this diffusion process cannot continue indefinitely. As electrons diffuse from the n-region, positively charged donor atoms are left behind. Similarly, as holes diffuse from the p-region, they uncover negatively charged acceptor atoms. The un-neutralized ions in the neighbourhood of the junction are referred to as uncovered charges. The general shape of the charge density ‘ρ’ depends upon how the diode is doped. Since the region of the junction is depleted of mobile charges, it is called depletion region, the space-charge region, or the transition region.

Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
The net positive and negative charges in ‘n’ and ‘p’ regions induce an electric fields in the region near the metallurgical junction, in the direction from the positive to the negative charge, or from the n to the p region.
Density gradients still exist in the exist in the majority carrier concentrations at each edge of the space charge region and producing a “diffusion force” that acts on the majority carriers as shown in Figure 1. The electric field in the space charge region produces another force on the electrons and holes which in the opposite direction to the diffusion force for each type of particle. In thermal equilibrium, the diffusion force and the field force exactly balance each other.

I-V Characteristics of a 

p-n Junction

 Diode 

Below figure indicates the characteristic curve consisting of three distinct regions:

p-n Junction characteristic p-n Junction characteristic Note: When PN junction is reverse biased, the reverse voltage must be always less than breakdown voltage of device, otherwise the normal diode will be damaged.

Contact Potential or Built-in potential

Let the PN junction is kept either open circuit condition or unbiased condition.
Mathematically,
V0 = Vbi
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
Note

  • Contact Potential, V0 is a function of temperature.
  • Contact Potential, V0 decreases with the temperature.
  • For 1ºC rise in temperature, V0 decreases by 2.5 mV.

Biasing of a Diode

The electric field across the junction has a fixed polarity called barrier potential or height of the barrier. A popular semiconductor device is formed using a p-n junction called p-n junction diode.

No Applied Bias (VD = 0V): In the absence of an applied bias voltage, the net flow of charge in anyone direction for a semiconductor diode is zero.

Forward Bias (VD > 0V):
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)Rs = Current Limiting Resistance
VD = Forward Voltage across diode
By KVL we get:
V = VR + VD
V = If Rs + If Rf
Rf = Forward resistance of diode
The General formula of forward current, if (diode current) is:
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
So,
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
AqDp/LpN= If due to flow of holes from P side to N side
AqDn/NALn = If due to flow of electrons from N side to P side
Also,
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
The reverse saturation current in the Forward bias diode i
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
AqDp/LpN= If due to flow of holes from P side to N side
AqDn/LnNA = If due to flow of electrons from N side to P side
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
A = Cross Sectional Area of Junction

Reverse Bias (VD < 0V):

Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)When PN junction is reverse biased, the width of the depletion layer increases.

Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)

Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)

Note: When PN junction is reverse biased the majority carries of P & N region will move away from the junction and this increases the region of IMMOBILE CHARGES i.e. the width of the depletion layer is increased.

Reverse Bias Breakdown in Diode 

We have found that a p-n junction biased in the reverse direction exhibits a small, essentially voltage-independent saturation current. This is true until a critical reverse bias is reached, for which reverse breakdown occurs [Fig. (18)]. At this critical voltage (VBr) the reverse current through the diode increases sharply, and relatively large currents can flow with little further increase in voltage. The existence of a critical breakdown voltage introduces almost a right-angle appearance to the reverse characteristic of most diodes.

Reverse breakdown in a p-n JunctionReverse breakdown in a p-n Junction

Static and Dynamic Resistance

The static resistance of a diode is defined as the ratio V/I of the voltage to the current. At any point on the volt-ampere characteristic of the diode the resistance Rf is equal to the reciprocal of the scope of a line joining the operating point to the origin.
For small-signal operation the dynamic, or incremental, resistance r is defined as the reciprocal of the slope of the volt-ampere characteristic. RºdV/dI. For a semiconductor diode, we find from equation that the dynamic conductance where I is forward current.

Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
for a forward bias greater than a few tenths of a volt, I >> I0 and r is given approximately by 

Note

  • The dynamic resistance of Ge diode with a forward current of 26 mA is 1 Ω
  • Dynamic resistance in Si diode is more than in Ge diode.

Solved Example

Example 1: Find the voltage drop across each of the Silicon junction diodes shown in the figure below at room temperature. Assume that reverse saturation current flows in the circuit and the magnitude of the reverse breakdown voltage is greater than 5 Volts.

Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)Solution:
VD1 + Vd2 = 5V
VD2 = 5 -Vd1
For diode D1,Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)

For diode D2, Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
from equation, (i) and (ii)
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
VD2 = 4.964 V

Transition and Diffusion Capacitance

Transition or depletion layer capacitance:
Cr = Cj = ∈ A/W = Unit farads.
A = Cross Sectional Area Of junction
W = Width of Depletion Region
CT ∝ A
CT ∝ 1/W
For better performance of diode or BJT, the value of CT must be as small as possible.
In a reverse biased PN junction, the transition capacitance, CT
CT ∝ V-n
where
V = reverse Biased Voltage
n = constant
n = grading coefficient
n = 1/2; for Step graded diode (abrupt PN Junction diode)
= 1/3; for Linear graded diode

Diffusion Capacitance

For a forward bias p-n junction a capacitance which is much larger than the transition capacitance C, comes into picture. The origin of this larger capacitance lies in the injected charge stored near the junction outside the transition region. It is convenient to introduce an incremental capacitance defined as the rate of charge of injected charge with voltage, called the diffusion or storage capacitance CD.
C= dQ/dV
Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
where g = dl/dV the incremental conductance and r = ηVT/l. is the
incremental resistance 

Therefore, Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
Where η is a constant dependent upon semiconductor, and VT is volt equivalent temperature and τ is the mean life-time of minority carriers.

Note:

  • For a reverse bias junction CD may be neglected compared with C(transition capacitance).
  • For a forward bias junction CD is usually much larger than CT
  • Diffusion capacitance CD is proportional to the current I.

Shockley Diodes

Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)

  • A Shockley diode is formed by bonding a metal, such as platinum, to an n-type silicon.
  • This type of diodes has no depletion layer and can switch faster than ordinary diodes.
  • The most important application of Shockley diodes is in digital computers
  • Since a Shockley diode has a cut-in voltage of 0.25 V, they are frequently used in low-voltage rectifiers.
The document Junction Diodes | Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) is a part of the Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) Course Electronic Devices.
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FAQs on Junction Diodes - Electronic Devices - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)

1. What is a junction diode?
Ans. A junction diode is a two-terminal electronic device that allows the flow of electric current in only one direction. It is formed by joining together a p-type (positive) and an n-type (negative) semiconductor material.
2. How does a junction diode work?
Ans. A junction diode works based on the principle of the p-n junction. When a forward bias voltage is applied across the diode, the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the p-side and the negative terminal is connected to the n-side. This forward biasing reduces the barrier potential, allowing the flow of current. On the other hand, when a reverse bias voltage is applied, the diode blocks the current flow due to the increased barrier potential.
3. What are the applications of junction diodes?
Ans. Junction diodes have various applications in electronics and communication engineering. Some common applications include rectification of AC signals, voltage regulation, signal modulation and demodulation, switching circuits, and as a protection device against voltage spikes.
4. How is the reverse breakdown voltage of a junction diode determined?
Ans. The reverse breakdown voltage of a junction diode is determined by the doping concentration and the physical dimensions of the diode. A higher doping concentration or a larger physical size leads to a higher breakdown voltage. The breakdown voltage can also be specified by the manufacturer and is typically mentioned in the diode's datasheet.
5. What is the difference between a junction diode and a Zener diode?
Ans. The main difference between a junction diode and a Zener diode is their behavior under reverse bias. A junction diode under reverse bias blocks the current flow until the reverse breakdown voltage is reached, after which it allows the current to flow. On the other hand, a Zener diode is designed to operate in the reverse breakdown region and exhibits a controlled breakdown voltage known as the Zener voltage. Zener diodes are commonly used in voltage regulation and voltage reference applications.
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