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PN Junction Diode

Semiconductors have electrical properties between conductors and insulators. Their conductivity can be controlled through doping with impurities. P-type semiconductors are doped with elements like boron that create holes, while n-type are doped with elements like phosphorus that contribute extra electrons. Connecting a p-type and n-type semiconductor creates a p-n junction diode that allows current to easily flow in one direction but impedes it in the other. This one-way conduction property makes diodes fundamental electronic components.

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29 views44 pages

PN Junction Diode

Semiconductors have electrical properties between conductors and insulators. Their conductivity can be controlled through doping with impurities. P-type semiconductors are doped with elements like boron that create holes, while n-type are doped with elements like phosphorus that contribute extra electrons. Connecting a p-type and n-type semiconductor creates a p-n junction diode that allows current to easily flow in one direction but impedes it in the other. This one-way conduction property makes diodes fundamental electronic components.

Uploaded by

Prasanth. S
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SEMICONDUCTORS

What is a Semiconductor?
What is a Semiconductor?

Microprocessors

LED

Capacitors
Transistors
Range of
Conduciveness

The semiconductors fall somewhere midway


between conductors and insulators.
Range of
Conduciveness

Semiconductors have special electronic properties


which allow them to be insulating or conducting
depending on their composition.
1824

John Jacob Berzelis

First to isolate and identify silicon.


Remains little more than a scientific curiosity until
the 1900s.
1833

Michael Faraday Resistance (Ohms)

Temperature (ºC)

Discovers that electrical resistively decreases as


temperature increases in silver sulfide.
This is the first investigation of a semiconductor.
Conductors

In a conductor, electrons can move freely among


these orbitals within an energy band as long as the
orbitals are not completely occupied.
Conductors

In conductors, the valence band is empty.


Conductors

Also in conductors, the energy gap is nonexistent or


relatively small.
Insulators

In insulators, the valence band is full.


Insulators

Also in insulators, the energy gap is relatively large.


Semiconductors

In semiconductors, the valence band is full but the


energy gap is intermediate.
Semiconductors

Only a small leap is required for an electron to enter


the Conduction Band.
Band Diagrams
Doping

Doping (adding an impurity) can produce 2 types of


semi-conductors depending upon the element
added.
P-Type Doping

In P-type doping, boron or gallium is the dopant.


P-Type Doping

Boron and gallium each have only three outer


electrons.
When mixed into the silicon lattice, they form
"holes" in the lattice where a silicon electron has
nothing to bond to.
P-Type Doping

The absence of an electron creates the effect of a


positive charge, hence the name P-type.

Holes can conduct current. A hole happily accepts


an electron from a neighbor, moving the hole over a
space. P-type silicon is a good conductor.
N-Type

In N-type doping, phosphorus or arsenic is added to


the silicon in small quantities.
N-Type

Phosphorus and arsenic each have five outer


electrons, so they're out of place when they get into
the silicon lattice.
The fifth electron has nothing to bond to, so it's free
to move around.
N-Type

It takes only a very small quantity of the impurity to


create enough free electrons to allow an electric
current to flow through the silicon. N-type silicon is
a good conductor.
Electrons have a negative charge, hence the name
N-type.
P-N Junction

We create a p-n junction by joining together two


pieces of semiconductor, one doped n-type, the
other p-type.
P-N Junction

In the n-type region there are extra electrons and in


the p-type region, there are holes from the acceptor
impurities .
P-N Junction
In the p-type region there are holes from the
acceptor impurities and in the n-type region there
are extra electrons.
P-N Junction

When a p-n junction is formed, some of the electrons


from the n-region which have reached the
conduction band are free to diffuse across the
junction and combine with holes.
P-N Junction
Filling a hole makes a negative ion and leaves
behind a positive ion on the n-side.

A space charge builds up, creating a depletion


region.
P-N Junction

This causes a depletion zone to form around the


junction (the join) between the two materials.
This zone controls the behavior of the diode.
Forward Biasing

Forward biasing the p-n junction drives holes to the


junction from the p-type material and electrons to
the junction from the n-type material.
Forward Biasing

At the junction the electrons and holes combine so


that a continuous current can be maintained.
Diode

A diode is the simplest possible semiconductor


device.
One Way Electric “Turnstile”

A diode allows current to flow in one direction but


not the other.
Jumping

If you apply enough reverse voltage, the junction


breaks down and lets current through.
Reverse Biasing

The application of a reverse voltage to the p-n


junction will cause a transient current to flow as
both electrons and holes are pulled away from the
junction.
Reverse Biasing

When the potential formed by the widened depletion


layer equals the applied voltage, the current will
cease except for the small thermal current.
When forward-biased, there is a small amount of
voltage necessary to get the diode going. In silicon,
this voltage is about 0.7 volts.

This voltage is needed to start the hole-electron


combination process at the junction.
Diode Characteristic

When reverse-biased, an ideal diode would block all


current. A real diode lets perhaps 10 microamps
through -- not a lot, but still not perfect.
Diode Characteristic

Usually, the breakdown voltage is a lot more voltage


than the circuit will ever see, so it is irrelevant.

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