Diode...

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Diode is basically a 2 lead semiconductor in simple way a diode is semiconductor what has 2 lead. In operation, the diode is just like one way gate for the flow of electrons. It is the main property of the diode that it allows current to pass in only one direction. 

asic Symbol of Diode As:

Now the next concept is how diode works. To understand this. So, let start the next and very important concept of diode working:

How Diode Works:

After the brief introduction of the diode, now I tell you the basic ideas about its working principles. When we refer to diode work, two main points to be remembered are in which diode works normally. They are Forward Bias Diode and Reverse Bias Diode. Now here I tell you about the both properties of diode working accordingly.

Forward Bias Diode:

When the diode is connected to the battery in the way as shown in below figure, then what happen are electrons from the N-Side and Holes from the P-Side are forced towards the center by the electrical field supplied by the battery. Due to the combination of electrons and holes, the current pass through the diode. When a diode is arranged in this way as shown below, it is called the Forwards Biased Diode.

I hope your concept about the forward biasing working of diode will be very clear , now let come to the second property of diode working, that is Reverse Biasing.

Reverse Bias Diode:

When the diode is connected to the circuit or battery as shown in below figure, then what happens is , holes in the N-side are forced to the left while electrons in the P-side are forced to the right. This process results in an empty zone around the PN – Junction that is free of any charge carrier creating a Depletion Region. This depletion region acts like an insulator which prevents the current from flowing through the diode. When a diode is arranged in this manner, then it Is called Reverse Biased diode.

Points about the working Principle of Diode:

1.      As stated earlier that the diode is just like one way gate, so it does not work all the time.

2.      For silicon diode, an applied voltage of 0.6 V or greater needed, otherwise the diode conduction will not occur and diode will not work.

This feature is useful in forming a voltage-sensitive switch

PN Junction Diode:

A PN Junction diode is formed by joining the n-type and p-type silicon. In practice, as the n-type (Silicon) Si crystal is being grown, the process is abruptly altered to grow p-type Si crystal. Finally, a glass or plastic coating is placed around the joined crystal.

The P side of the PN Junction diode is called anode and the N Side is called the Cathode of the PN Junction Diode. When the anode and cathode of a PN-junction diode are connected to external voltage such that the potential at anode is higher than the potential at cathode, the diode is said to be forward biased.

In a forward-biased diode current is allowed to flow through the device.

Reverse Biased Diode:

When potential at anode is smaller than the potential at cathode, the diode is said to be reverse biased. In a reverse-biased diode current is blocked.

About the Author

I am Kashif Mirza, the founder of Student Training Lab (STL). I am working on projects since 2005 before that I just search things and now I am sharing my knowledge through this plateform.

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Posted in: Diode