1 tunnel
1 tunnel
Tunnel Diode
A tunnel diode is a two-terminal device one is an anode and the other is a cathode.
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1.4 Difference between Normal P-N Junction and Tunnel diode
Normal Diode
When the normal diode is forward
biased the depletion region
decreases and the barrier height also
decreases.
The electrons into the N-type layer
cannot penetrate through the
depletion region because of the
opposition of the inbuilt voltage.
When the applied external
voltage is increased and when it is
higher than the barrier voltage
only then do the electrons pass
over the barrier and enter the p
side.
Tunnel Diode
Unlike the normal PN junction in
the tunnel diode, there is a large
difference in the energy levels of
P-type and N-type.
The energy level of the conduction
band and the valence of the N-type
is significantly lower than the P-
type band.
In Tunnel diodes, the conduction
band of the N-type overlaps the
valence band of the P-type.
The depletion region is very small
in the tunnel (because doping is
very high compared to a normal
P-N junction diode) so the
electrons from the N-type in the
conduction band can directly pass
through the barrier to the P-type
valence band
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1.5 Tunnel Diode: Working
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Step 3:
When the applied voltage is
increased
When the applied voltage is
increased a greater number of free
electrons and holes are generated
and the conduction band of N-type
and the valence band of P-type
become equal, so maximum tunnel
current flows.
Step 4:
When the applied voltage is
further increased
When the applied voltage is
further increased
misalignment of the valence
band of P-type and
conduction band of N-type
takes place. So, the flow of
tunnel current decreases.
Step 5:
When the applied voltage is
largely increased
When the applied voltage is
further increased, it behaves
like a normal PN-diode
and the tunnel current is
zero (overall current is
enhanced but there is no
tunneling effect)
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1.6 V-I Characteristics
(By Summarizing all the four Steps)
When voltage is applied it
starts conducting
immediately because of
heavy doping.
When the voltage increased
further it showed negative
resistance and the current
decreased.
When the applied voltage is
increased more, it conducts
like the normal diode.
1.7 Advantages
It is a low-power device
It is a low-noise device
It is a low-cost device
High-speed (High switching speed)
Fast response
Easy to operate
1.8 Disadvantages/Limitations
No isolation between the input and output circuits.
The output power is low in milliwatts.
1.9 Applications
It is used in FM receivers because of its low power requirement.
It is used in high-frequency components since it shows a fast response.
It is used in logic memory storage device
It is used in high-speed switching (useful for high-frequency signals)
It is used in microwave circuits