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Exp - 8 PN Junction

This experiment aims to obtain the voltage-current (V-I) characteristics of a semiconductor diode in forward and reverse bias. The apparatus required includes a diode, voltmeter, milliammeter, and battery. In forward bias, voltage is applied such that positive terminal is connected to the anode and negative to cathode. As voltage increases, current also increases. In reverse bias, polarity is reversed so negative terminal connects to anode and positive to cathode. As reverse voltage increases, little to no current flows. Observations of voltage and current values are recorded in tables for both biases and graphs are plotted to obtain the forward and reverse V-I characteristics curves.

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pooshkarr
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309 views

Exp - 8 PN Junction

This experiment aims to obtain the voltage-current (V-I) characteristics of a semiconductor diode in forward and reverse bias. The apparatus required includes a diode, voltmeter, milliammeter, and battery. In forward bias, voltage is applied such that positive terminal is connected to the anode and negative to cathode. As voltage increases, current also increases. In reverse bias, polarity is reversed so negative terminal connects to anode and positive to cathode. As reverse voltage increases, little to no current flows. Observations of voltage and current values are recorded in tables for both biases and graphs are plotted to obtain the forward and reverse V-I characteristics curves.

Uploaded by

pooshkarr
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Aim of the Experiment

To draw the V ~ I characteristics of a semiconductor diode in forward bias and reverse bias
Apparatus Required
 Semiconductor junction in diode board
 D.c voltmeter
 Miliammeter
 Microammeter
 battery
Theory
A P – N junction diode consists of P – type and N – type semiconductor in contact with each other. The
anode refers to P – type region and cathode refers to N – type region. The arrow head in the symbol points
the direction of current flow. When it is forward biased.

Biasing of P – N junction diode


There are two ways in which a potential difference can be applied to a junction diode
Forward biasing
In this type of biasing positive terminal and negative terminal of the source of e. m. f are connected to P –
type and N – type crystal respectively.
Reverse biasing
In this type of biasing positive terminal and negative terminal of the source of e. m. f are connected to N –
type and P – type crystals respectively.

Circuit Diagram
Procedure
Forward biasing
(a) The connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram.
(b) In this circuit, the diode is connected to a d. c. battery (VAA) through a potentiometer
arrangement.
(c) The potentiometer helps in varying the voltage applied across the diode.
(d) A voltmeter is connected across the diode to measure the voltage, where as a milliammeter
measures current in the circuit.
(e) Positive terminal of the battery is connected to the anode of a diode and negative terminal to
cathode.
(f) Now the voltage is increased gradually in small steps of about 0.1 V and the corresponding values
of current are recorded.
(g) Now a graph is plotted with voltage across the diode along horizontal axis and current across the
diode along vertical axis. A curve is obtained. This is the forward characteristics curve of P – N
junction diode.
Reverse biasing
(h) The connection is made as shown in the circuit diagram.
(i) Negative terminal of the battery is connected to the anode of a diode and positive terminal to
cathode.
(j) Now the applied reverse voltage increased gradually above zero in suitable steps and the values of
diode current are recorded at each step.
(k) Now a graph is plotted with reverse voltage along the horizontal axis and current across the diode
along vertical axis. A curve is obtained. This is the reverse characteristic curve of P – N junction
diode.

Observations
Forward Biased Reverse Biased
Range of voltmeter:- 0 to 3 V Range of voltmeter:- 0 to 30 V
Range of ammeter:- 0 to 10 mA Range of ammeter:- 0 to 100 µA
Least count of voltmeter:- 0.05 V Least count of voltmeter:- 0.5 V
Least count of ammeter:- 0.2 mA Least count of ammeter:- 2 µA

Observation table
Sl. No Forward biasing Reverse biasing
Forward voltage (in V) Forward current (in mA) Reverse voltage (in V) Reverse current (in µA)
1 0 0 0 0
2 0.25 0 2.5 6
3 0.5 0.2 5 10
4 0.75 1 7.5 16
5 1 2 10 20
6 1.25 3 12.5 26
7 1.5 4 15 30
8 1.75 5 17.5 36
9 2 6 20 40
10 2.25 7 22.5 46
11 2.5 8
12 2.75 9
Graph
By taking a suitable scale, a graph between voltage across X axis and and current along y axis, graph for
forward and reverse bias is drawn
Result
The I −V graph for forward and reverse bias is obtained as shown in the graph
Precautions
(a) All connection should be neat, clean and tight.
(b) Key should be used in circuit and opened when the circuit is not being used.

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