Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Explain briefly with the help of necessary diagrams, the reverse biasing of a p-n junction diode. Also draw characteristic curves.
Advertisements
Solution
p-n junction diode under reverse bias

Positive terminal of battery is connected to n-side and negative terminal to p-side.
Reverse bias supports the potential barrier. Therefore, the barrier height increases and the width of depletion region also increases.
Effective barrier height under reverse bias is (V0 + V).

No conduction across the junction due to majority carriers; few minority carriers cross the junction after being accelerated by high reverse bias voltage
This constitutes a current that flows in opposite direction − celled reverse current.

APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Write the two processes that take place in the formation of a p-n junction.
In a p-n junction with open ends,
(a) there is no systematic motion of charge carries
(b) holes and conduction electrons systematically go from the p-side to n-side and from the n-side to p-side respectively
(c) there is no net charge transfer between the two sides
(d) there is a constant electric field near the junction.
In a p.n junction, the depletion region is 400 nm wide and an electric field of 5 × 105 V m−1 exists in it. (a) Find the height of the potential barrier. (b) What should be the minimum kinetic energy of a conduction electron which can diffuse from the n-side to the p-side?
When a p-n junction is reverse-biased, the current becomes almost constant at 25 µA. When it is forward-biased at 200 mV, a current of 75 µA is obtained. Find the magnitude of diffusion current when the diode is
(a) unbiased,
(b) reverse-biased at 200 mV and
(c) forward-biased at 200 mV.
The current−voltage characteristic of an ideal p-n junction diode is given by \[i = i_0 ( e^{eV/KT} - 1)\] where, the drift current i0 equals 10 µA. Take the temperature T to be 300 K. (a) Find the voltage V0 for which \[e^{eV/kT} = 100 .\]One can neglect the term 1 for voltages greater than this value. (b) Find an expression for the dynamic resistance of the diode as a function of V for V > V0. (c) Find the voltage for which the dynamic resistance is 0.2 Ω.
(Use Planck constant h = 4.14 × 10-15 eV-s, Boltzmann constant k = 8·62 × 10-5 eV/K.)
The depletion layer in the p-n junction diode is caused by ______.
What is barrier potential?
Which process moves charge carriers from a higher concentration to a lower concentration?
What is the use of diodes in power supplies and chargers?
What role do diodes perform in electronic switching?
