Which diode is better silicon or germanium?
The structure of Germanium crystals will be destroyed at higher temperature. However, Silicon crystals are not easily damaged by excess heat. Peak Inverse Voltage ratings of Silicon diodes are greater than Germanium diodes. Si is less expensive due to the greater abundance of element.
What is the difference between germanium and silicon?
Each has four valence electrons, but germanium will at a given temperature have more free electrons and a higher conductivity. Silicon is by far the more widely used semiconductor for electronics, partly because it can be used at much higher temperatures than germanium.
What is difference between silicon and germanium diode?
A Silicon Diode is a semiconductor that has both positive and negative charge polarity and can allow an electrical current to flow in one direction whilst restricting another. Silicon Diodes have a forward voltage of approximately 0.7 volts whereas Germanium Diodes have a forward voltage of approximately 0.3 volts.
What is the zener breakdown voltage?
The Zener Breakdown is observed in the Zener diodes having Vz less than 5V or between 5 to 8 volts. When a reverse voltage is applied to a Zener diode, it causes a very intense electric field to appear across a narrow depletion region..
How do zener diodes work?
The Zener diode operates just like the normal diode when in the forward-bias mode, and has a turn-on voltage of between 0.3 and 0.7 V. As the reverse voltage increases to the predetermined breakdown voltage (Vz), a current starts flowing through the diode.
Why do we use zener diode?
Zener diodes are used for voltage regulation, as reference elements, surge suppressors, and in switching applications and clipper circuits. The load voltage equals breakdown voltage VZ of the diode. The series resistor limits the current through the diode and drops the excess voltage when the diode is conducting.
Why zener diode is used in Rectifier?
A Zener diode is made up of a PN junction but heavily doped compared to a normal diode. As a result, it can undergo breakdown without being damaged. And Due to this property only, Zener is used as a voltage regulator in electronic circuits. In fact, Zener diodes are never used for rectification purposes.
What is the most common use for a zener diode?
voltage regulation
Why zener diode is heavily doped?
The Zener diode, however, is heavily doped, as a result, they have a thin depletion region. Zener diode, under forward bias condition, conducts like a normal diode and if the applied voltage is higher than the reverse voltage then it conducts in the reverse bias condition too.
What is the Speciality of Zener diode?
A Zener diode is a particular type of diodethat, unlike a normal one, allows current to flow not only from its anode to its cathode, but also in the reverse direction, when the Zener voltage is reached. Zener diodes have a highly doped p-n junction.
What happens if reverse current is increased above the breakdown value?
Solution : We know that the reverse current through the junction diode is due to flow of minority carriers (i.e., flow of electrons from p to n side and holes from n to p-side of p-n junction diode). As the reverse bias voltage across the junction is increased, the electric field at the junction becomes significant.
What is the current through zener diode?
As we see that the resistance R2 and Zener diodes are connected in parallel so the voltage across them is equal, so the potential difference across R2 is also 10 Volts. Potential difference across R2=10. Let, Potential difference acrossR1beV1. Therefore, current through Zener diodes would be 3.3mA.
What is the difference between a diode and a Zener diode?
A diode is a semiconductor device which conducts in one direction only. A Zener diode is a semiconductor device which conducts in forward biased as well as reversed biased. A normal diode if operated in reversed biased will get destroyed.
How is zener voltage calculated?
Place the multimeter on a DC voltage setting. Measure the voltage across the diode by placing a multimeter lead on each terminal. It should read approximately 5.6 volts, though the value may be as low as 5.32 or as high as 5.88 volts. Note that the voltage between the battery and ground remains at 9 V.
When load current is zero the zener current will be?
Answer. Answer: When load current is zero, the zener current will be 0.
What is the value of Zener voltage for given zener diode?
The zener voltage of zener diodes comes in a range of values. You can find them in 3.3V-12V easily in widespread use.