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{{about||data diodes|Unidirectional network|other uses|Diodes (disambiguation)}}
]
]. In most diodes, a white or black painted band identifies the ] into which electrons will flow when the diode is conducting. Electron flow is the reverse of ] flow.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Tooley
| first = Mike
| title = Electronic Circuits: Fundamentals and Applications, 3rd Ed.
| publisher = Routlege
| year = 2012
| page = 81
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NunPn6R__TAC&pg=PA81
| isbn = 1-136-40731-6}}</ref><ref name="Lowe">{{cite web
| last = Lowe
| first = Doug
| title = Electronics Components: Diodes
| work = Electronics All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies
| publisher = John Wiley & Sons
| year = 2013
| url = http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/electronics-components-diodes.html
| accessdate = January 4, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Crecraft">{{cite book
| last = Crecraft
| first = David
|author2=Stephen Gergely
| title = Analog Electronics: Circuits, Systems and Signal Processing
| publisher = Butterworth-Heinemann
| year = 2002
| page = 110
| url = https://books.google.com/?id=lS7qN6iHyBYC&pg=PA110
| isbn = 0-7506-5095-8}}</ref><ref name="Horowitz">{{cite book
| last = Horowitz
| first = Paul
| author2=Winfield Hill
| title = The Art of Electronics, 2nd Ed.
| publisher = Cambridge University Press
| year = 1989
| location = London
| page = 44
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bkOMDgwFA28C&pg=PA44
| isbn = 0-521-37095-7}}</ref>]]
] diode. The filament itself may be the cathode, or more commonly (as shown here) used to heat a separate metal tube which serves as the cathode.]]

A '''diode''' is a two-] ] that conducts ] primarily in one direction (asymmetric ]); it has low (ideally zero) ] in one direction, and high (ideally infinite) ] in the other. A '''semiconductor diode''', the most common type today, is a ] piece of ] material with a ] connected to two electrical terminals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.element-14.com/community/docs/DOC-22519/l/physical-explanation--general-semiconductors |title=Physical Explanation – General Semiconductors |date=2010-05-25 |access-date=2010-08-06}}</ref> A ] diode has two ]s, a ] (anode) and a ]. Semiconductor diodes were the first ]. The discovery of ]s' ] abilities was made by German physicist ] in 1874. The first semiconductor diodes, called ]s, developed around 1906, were made of mineral crystals such as ]. Today, most diodes are made of ], but other materials such as ] and ] are sometimes used.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.element-14.com/community/docs/DOC-22518/l/the-constituents-of-semiconductor-components |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710183421/http://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-22518/l/the-constituents-of-semiconductor-components |archivedate=2011-07-10 |title=The Constituents of Semiconductor Components |date=2010-05-25 |access-date=2010-08-06}}</ref>

==Main functions==
The most common function of a diode is to allow an electric current to pass in one direction (called the diode's ''forward'' direction), while blocking it in the opposite direction (the ''reverse'' direction). As such, the diode can be viewed as an electronic version of a ]. This unidirectional behavior is called ], and is used to convert ] (AC) to ] (DC). Forms of ]s, diodes can be used for such tasks as extracting ] from radio signals in radio receivers.

However, diodes can have more complicated behavior than this simple on–off action, because of their ] current-voltage characteristics. Semiconductor diodes begin conducting electricity only if a certain threshold voltage or cut-in voltage is present in the forward direction (a state in which the diode is said to be '']''). The voltage drop across a forward-biased diode varies only a little with the current, and is a function of temperature; this effect can be used as a ] or as a ].

A semiconductor diode's current–voltage characteristic can be tailored by selecting the ] and the ] impurities introduced into the materials during manufacture. These techniques are used to create special-purpose diodes that perform many different functions. For example, diodes are used to regulate voltage (]s), to protect circuits from high voltage surges (]s), to electronically tune radio and TV receivers (]s), to generate ] ]s (]s, ]s, ]s), and to produce light (]s). Tunnel, Gunn and IMPATT diodes exhibit ], which is useful in ] and switching circuits.

Diodes, both vacuum and semiconductor, can be used as ].

==History==
Thermionic (]) diodes and ] (semiconductor) diodes were developed separately, at approximately the same time, in the early 1900s, as radio receiver ]s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Guarnieri|first=M.|date=2011|title=Trailblazers in Solid-State Electronics|journal=IEEE Ind. Electron. M.|volume=5|issue=4|pages=46–47|doi=10.1109/MIE.2011.943016|ref=harv}}</ref> Until the 1950s, vacuum diodes were used more frequently in radios because the early point-contact semiconductor diodes were less stable. In addition, most receiving sets had vacuum tubes for amplification that could easily have the thermionic diodes included in the tube (for example the ] ]), and vacuum-tube rectifiers and gas-filled rectifiers were capable of handling some high-voltage/high-current rectification tasks better than the semiconductor diodes (such as ]) that were available at that time.

===Vacuum diodes===
{{further|Vacuum tube#History and development}}
In 1873, ] discovered the basic principle of operation of thermionic diodes.<ref>Guthrie, Frederick (October 1873) ''The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science'', 4th series, '''46''' : 257–266.</ref><ref> Owen W. Richardson, "Thermionic phenomena and the laws which govern them", December 12, 1929</ref> He discovered that a positively charged ] could be discharged by bringing a ] piece of white-hot metal close to it (but not actually touching it). The same did not apply to a negatively charged electroscope, indicating that the current flow was only possible in one direction.

] independently rediscovered the principle in 1880.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Redhead|first=P. A.|date=1998-05-01|year=|title=The birth of electronics: Thermionic emission and vacuum|url=http://avs.scitation.org/doi/10.1116/1.581157|journal=Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films|volume=16|issue=3|pages=1394|doi=10.1116/1.581157|issn=0734-2101|via=}}</ref> At the time, he was investigating why the filaments of his carbon-filament light bulbs nearly always burned out at the positive-connected end. He had a special bulb made with a metal plate sealed into the glass envelope. Using this device, he confirmed that an invisible current flowed from the glowing filament through the ] to the metal plate, but only when the plate was connected to the positive supply.

Edison devised a circuit where his modified light bulb effectively replaced the resistor in a ] ]. Edison was awarded a patent for this invention in 1884.<ref>Edison, Thomas A. "Electrical Meter" {{US patent|307030}} Issue date: Oct 21, 1884</ref> Since there was no apparent practical use for such a device at the time, the patent application was most likely simply a precaution in case someone else did find a use for the so-called ].

About 20 years later, ] (scientific adviser to the ]
and former Edison employee) realized that the Edison effect could be used as a precision ]. Fleming patented the first true thermionic diode, the ], in Britain on November 16, 1904<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jmargolin.com/history/trans.htm |title=Road to the Transistor |publisher=Jmargolin.com |accessdate=2008-09-22}}</ref> (followed by {{US patent|803684}} in November 1905).

===Solid-state diodes===
In 1874, German scientist ] discovered the "unilateral conduction" of crystals.<ref>Braun, Ferdinand (1874) (On current conduction in metal sulphides), ''Annalen der Physik und Chemie'', '''153''' : 556–563.</ref><ref>. chem.ch.huji.ac.il</ref> Braun patented the crystal rectifier in 1899.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://encyclobeamia.solarbotics.net/articles/diode.html |title=Diode |publisher=Encyclobeamia.solarbotics.net |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426020137/http://encyclobeamia.solarbotics.net/articles/diode.html |archivedate=2006-04-26 |df= }}</ref> ] and ]s were developed for power applications in the 1930s.

Indian scientist ] was the first to use a crystal for detecting radio waves in 1894.<ref name="Sarkar">{{Cite book | last = Sarkar | first = Tapan K. | title = History of wireless | publisher = John Wiley and Sons | year = 2006 | location = USA | pages = 94, 291–308 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NBLEAA6QKYkC&pg=PA291 | isbn = 0-471-71814-9}}</ref> The ] was developed into a practical device for ] by ], who invented a ] crystal detector in 1903 and received a patent for it on November 20, 1906.<ref>Pickard, Greenleaf Whittier "Means for receiving intelligence communicated by electric waves" {{US patent|836531}} Issued: August 30, 1906</ref> Other experimenters tried a variety of other substances, of which the most widely used was the mineral ] (]). Other substances offered slightly better performance, but galena was most widely used because it had the advantage of being cheap and easy to obtain. The crystal detector in these early ] sets consisted of an adjustable wire point-contact, often made of gold or platinum because of their incorrodible nature (the so-called "cat's whisker"), which could be manually moved over the face of the crystal in search of a portion of that mineral with rectifying qualities. This troublesome device was superseded by thermionic diodes (]s) by the 1920s, but after high purity semiconductor materials became available, the crystal detector returned to dominant use with the advent, in the 1950s, of inexpensive fixed-] diodes. ] also developed a germanium diode for microwave reception, and AT&T used these in their microwave towers that criss-crossed the United States starting in the late 1940s, carrying telephone and network television signals. ] did not develop a satisfactory thermionic diode for microwave reception.

===Etymology===
At the time of their invention, such devices were known as ]s. In 1919, the year ]s were invented, ] coined the term '''''diode''''' from the ] ''di'' (from ''δί''), meaning 'two', and ''ode'' (from ''ὁδός''), meaning 'path'. (However, the word ''diode'' itself, as well as ''], ], ], ]'', were already in use as terms of ] ]; see, for example, ''The telegraphic journal and electrical review'', September 10, 1886, p.&nbsp;252).

====Rectifiers====
{{Main article|Rectifier}}
Although all diodes ''rectify'', the term ']' is normally reserved for higher currents and voltages than would normally be found in the rectification of lower power ]; examples include:
* ] rectifiers ('']'', ''full-wave'', '']'')
* ]s

==Thermionic diodes==
]
]

A thermionic diode is a ] device (also known as a ], tube, or valve), consisting of a sealed evacuated glass envelope containing two ]s: a ] heated by a ], and a ] (]). Early examples were fairly similar in appearance to ]s.

In operation, a current flows through the filament (heater)—a high resistance wire made of ]—and heats the cathode red hot (800–1000&nbsp;°C). This causes the cathode to release ]s into the vacuum, a process called ]. (Some valves use ''direct heating'', in which a tungsten filament acts as both heater and cathode.) The alternating voltage to be rectified is applied between the cathode and the concentric plate electrode. When the plate has a positive voltage with respect to the cathode, it ] attracts the electrons from the cathode, so a current of electrons flows through the tube from cathode to plate. However, when the polarity is reversed and the plate has a negative voltage, no current flows, because the cathode electrons are not attracted to it. The plate, being unheated, does not emit any electrons. So electrons can only flow through the tube in one direction, from the cathode to the anode plate.

The cathode is coated with ]s of ]s, such as ] and ] ]s. These have a low ], meaning that they more readily emit electrons than would the uncoated cathode.

In a ], an arc forms between a refractory conductive anode and a pool of liquid mercury acting as cathode. Such units were made with ratings up to hundreds of kilowatts, and were important in the development of ] power transmission. Some types of smaller thermionic rectifiers had mercury vapor fill to reduce their forward voltage drop and to increase current rating over thermionic hard-vacuum devices.

Throughout the vacuum tube era, valve diodes were used in analog signal applications and as rectifiers in DC power supplies in consumer electronics such as radios, televisions, and sound systems. They were replaced in power supplies beginning in the 1940s by ]s and then by semiconductor diodes by the 1960s. Today they are still used in a few high power applications where their ability to withstand transient voltages and their robustness gives them an advantage over semiconductor devices. The recent (2012) resurgence of interest among ]s and recording studios in old valve audio gear such as ]s and home audio systems has provided a market for the legacy consumer diode valves.

==Semiconductor diodes==<!-- This section is linked from ] --> ==Semiconductor diodes==<!-- This section is linked from ] -->


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{{main article|p–n diode}} {{main article|p–n diode}}
A p–n junction diode is made of a crystal of ], usually silicon, but ] and ] are also used. Impurities are added to it to create a region on one side that contains negative ]s (electrons), called an ], and a region on the other side that contains positive charge carriers (]), called a ]. When the n-type and p-type materials are attached together, a momentary flow of electrons occur from the n to the p side resulting in a third region between the two where no charge carriers are present. This region is called the ] because there are no charge carriers (neither electrons nor holes) in it. The diode's terminals are attached to the n-type and p-type regions. The boundary between these two regions, called a ], is where the action of the diode takes place. When a sufficiently higher electrical potential is applied to the P side (the ]) than to the N side (the ]), it allows electrons to flow through the depletion region from the N-type side to the P-type side. The junction does not allow the flow of electrons in the opposite direction when the potential is applied in reverse, creating, in a sense, an electrical ]. A p–n junction diode is made of a crystal of ], usually silicon, but ] and ] are also used. Impurities are added to it to create a region on one side that contains negative ]s (electrons), called an ], and a region on the other side that contains positive charge carriers (]), called a ]. When the n-type and p-type materials are attached together, a momentary flow of electrons occur from the n to the p side resulting in a third region between the two where no charge carriers are present. This region is called the ] because there are no charge carriers (neither electrons nor holes) in it. The diode's terminals are attached to the n-type and p-type regions. The boundary between these two regions, called a ], is where the action of the diode takes place. When a sufficiently higher electrical potential is applied to the P side (the ]) than to the N side (the ]), it allows electrons to flow through the depletion region from the N-type side to the P-type side. The junction does not allow the flow of electrons in the opposite direction when the potential is applied in reverse, creating, in a sense, an electrical ].

====Schottky diode====
{{main article|Schottky diode}}
Another type of junction diode, the ], is formed from a ] rather than a p–n junction, which reduces capacitance and increases switching speed.

===Current–voltage characteristic===
]

A semiconductor diode's behavior in a circuit is given by its ], or I–V graph (see graph below). The shape of the curve is determined by the transport of charge carriers through the so-called '']'' or '']'' that exists at the ] between differing semiconductors. When a p–n junction is first created, conduction-band (mobile) electrons from the N-] region diffuse into the P-] region where there is a large population of holes (vacant places for electrons) with which the electrons "recombine". When a mobile electron recombines with a hole, both hole and electron vanish, leaving behind an immobile positively charged donor (dopant) on the N side and negatively charged acceptor (dopant) on the P side. The region around the p–n junction becomes depleted of ]s and thus behaves as an ].

However, the width of the depletion region (called the ]) cannot grow without limit. For each ] recombination made, a positively charged ] ion is left behind in the N-doped region, and a negatively charged dopant ion is created in the P-doped region. As recombination proceeds and more ions are created, an increasing electric field develops through the depletion zone that acts to slow and then finally stop recombination. At this point, there is a "built-in" potential across the depletion zone.

] diode in forward bias mode, the ] decreases. Both p and n junctions are doped at a 1e15/cm3 ] level, leading to built-in ] of ~0.59V. Observe the different ]s for conduction band and valence band in n and p regions (red curves).]]

====Reverse bias====
If an external voltage is placed across the diode with the same polarity as the built-in potential, the depletion zone continues to act as an insulator, preventing any significant electric current flow (unless ]s are actively being created in the junction by, for instance, light; see ]). This is called the '']'' phenomenon.

====Forward bias====
However, if the polarity of the external voltage opposes the built-in potential, recombination can once again proceed, resulting in a substantial electric current through the p–n junction (i.e. substantial numbers of electrons and holes recombine at the junction). For silicon diodes, the built-in potential is approximately 0.7 V (0.3 V for germanium and 0.2 V for Schottky). Thus, if an external voltage greater than and opposite to the built-in voltage is applied, a current will flow and the diode is said to be "turned on" as it has been given an external '']''. The diode is commonly said to have a forward "threshold" voltage, above which it conducts and below which conduction stops. However, this is only an approximation as the forward characteristic is according to the Shockley equation absolutely smooth (see graph below).{{clarify|date=August 2015}}

A diode's ] can be approximated by four regions of operation:

# At very large reverse bias, beyond the ] or PIV, a process called reverse ] occurs that causes a large increase in current (i.e., a large number of electrons and holes are created at, and move away from the p–n junction) that usually damages the device permanently. The ] is deliberately designed for use in that manner. In the ], the concept of PIV is not applicable. A Zener diode contains a heavily doped p–n junction allowing electrons to tunnel from the valence band of the p-type material to the conduction band of the n-type material, such that the reverse voltage is "clamped" to a known value (called the ''Zener voltage''), and avalanche does not occur. Both devices, however, do have a limit to the maximum current and power they can withstand in the clamped reverse-voltage region. Also, following the end of forward conduction in any diode, there is reverse current for a short time. The device does not attain its full blocking capability until the reverse current ceases.
# For a bias less than the PIV, the reverse current is very small. For a normal P–N rectifier diode, the reverse current through the device in the micro-ampere (µA) range is very low. However, this is temperature dependent, and at sufficiently high temperatures, a substantial amount of reverse current can be observed (mA or more).
# With a small forward bias, where only a small forward current is conducted, the current–voltage curve is ] in accordance with the ideal diode equation. There is a definite forward voltage at which the diode starts to conduct significantly. This is called the ''knee voltage'' or ''cut-in voltage'' and is equal to the ] of the p-n junction. This is a feature of the exponential curve, and appears sharper on a current scale more compressed than in the diagram shown here.
# At larger forward currents the current-voltage curve starts to be dominated by the ohmic resistance of the bulk semiconductor. The curve is no longer exponential, it is asymptotic to a straight line whose slope is the bulk resistance. This region is particularly important for power diodes. The diode can be modeled as an ideal diode in series with a fixed resistor.

In a small silicon diode operating at its rated currents, the voltage drop is about 0.6 to 0.7 ]s. The value is different for other diode types—]s can be rated as low as 0.2 V, germanium diodes 0.25 to 0.3 V, and red or blue ]s (LEDs) can have values of 1.4 V and 4.0 V respectively.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

At higher currents the forward voltage drop of the diode increases. A drop of 1 V to 1.5 V is typical at full rated current for power diodes.

===Shockley diode equation===
{{main article|Shockley diode equation}}
The ''Shockley ideal diode equation'' or the ''diode law'' (named after the ] co-inventor ]) gives the I–V characteristic of an ideal diode in either forward or reverse bias (or no bias). The following equation is called the ''Shockley ideal diode equation'' when ''n'', the ideality factor, is set equal to 1 :

:<math>I=I_\mathrm{S} \left( e^\frac{V_\text{D}}{n V_\text{T}} - 1 \right)</math>

where
:''I'' is the diode current,
:''I''<sub>S</sub> is the reverse bias ] (or scale current),
:''V''<sub>D</sub> is the voltage across the diode,
:''V''<sub>T</sub> is the ], and
:''n'' is the ''ideality factor'', also known as the ''quality factor'' or sometimes ''emission coefficient''. The ideality factor ''n'' typically varies from 1 to 2 (though can in some cases be higher), depending on the fabrication process and semiconductor material and is set equal to 1 for the case of an "ideal" diode (thus the n is sometimes omitted). The ideality factor was added to account for imperfect junctions as observed in real transistors. The factor mainly accounts for ] as the charge carriers cross the ].

The ] ''V''<sub>T</sub> is approximately 25.85 mV at 300 K, a temperature close to "room temperature" commonly used in device simulation software. At any temperature it is a known constant defined by:

:<math>V_\text{T} = \frac{k T}{q} \, ,</math>

where ''k'' is the ], ''T'' is the absolute temperature of the p–n junction, and ''q'' is the magnitude of charge of an ] (the ]).

The reverse saturation current, ''I''<sub>S</sub>, is not constant for a given device, but varies with temperature; usually more significantly than ''V''<sub>T</sub>, so that ''V''<sub>D</sub> typically decreases as ''T'' increases.

The ''Shockley ideal diode equation'' or the ''diode law'' is derived with the assumption that the only processes giving rise to the current in the diode are drift (due to electrical field), diffusion, and thermal ] (R–G) (this equation is derived by setting n = 1 above). It also assumes that the R–G current in the depletion region is insignificant. This means that the ''Shockley ideal diode equation'' doesn't account for the processes involved in reverse breakdown and photon-assisted R–G. Additionally, it doesn't describe the "leveling off" of the I–V curve at high forward bias due to internal resistance. Introducing the ideality factor, n, accounts for recombination and generation of carriers.

Under ''reverse bias'' voltages the exponential in the diode equation is negligible, and the current is a constant (negative) reverse current value of −''I<sub>S</sub>''. The reverse ''breakdown region'' is not modeled by the Shockley diode equation.

For even rather small ''forward bias'' voltages the exponential is very large, since the thermal voltage is very small in comparison. The subtracted '1' in the diode equation is then negligible and the forward diode current can be approximated by

:<math>I = I_\text{S} e^\frac{V_\text{D}}{n V_\text{T}}</math>

The use of the diode equation in circuit problems is illustrated in the article on ].

===Small-signal behavior===
For circuit design, a small-signal model of the diode behavior often proves useful. A specific example of diode modeling is discussed in the article on ].

===Reverse-recovery effect===
Following the end of forward conduction in a p–n type diode, a reverse current can flow for a short time. The device does not attain its blocking capability until the mobile charge in the junction is depleted.

The effect can be significant when switching large currents very quickly.<ref>. ECEN5817. ecee.colorado.edu</ref> A certain amount of "reverse recovery time" t<sub>r</sub> (on the order of tens of nanoseconds to a few microseconds) may be required to remove the reverse recovery charge Q<sub>r</sub> from the diode. During this recovery time, the diode can actually conduct in the reverse direction. This might give rise to a large constant current in the reverse direction for a short time while the diode is reverse biased. The magnitude of such a reverse current is determined by the operating circuit (i.e., the series resistance) and the diode is said to be in the storage-phase.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1109/LED.2014.2353301| title = Gate-Controlled Reverse Recovery for Characterization of LDMOS Body Diode| journal = IEEE Electron Device Letters| volume = 35| issue = 11| page = 1079| year = 2014| last1 = Elhami Khorasani | first1 = A. | last2 = Griswold | first2 = M. | last3 = Alford | first3 = T. L.|bibcode = 2014IEDL...35.1079E }}</ref> <!-- That is to say, current will effectively flow from the cathode to the anode! --> In certain real-world cases it is important to consider the losses that are incurred by this non-ideal diode effect.<ref>. ECEN5797. ecee.colorado.edu</ref> However, when the ] of the current is not so severe (e.g. Line frequency) the effect can be safely ignored. For most applications, the effect is also negligible for ]s.

The reverse current ceases abruptly when the stored charge is depleted; this abrupt stop is exploited in ]s for generation of extremely short pulses.

==Types of semiconductor diode== ==Types of semiconductor diode==


There are several types of ]s, which emphasize either a different physical aspect of a diode often by geometric scaling, doping level, choosing the right electrodes, are just an application of a diode in a special circuit, or are really different devices like the Gunn and laser diode and the ]: There are several types of ]s, which emphasize either a different physical aspect of a diode often by geometric scaling, doping level, choosing the right electrodes, are just an application of a diode in a special circuit, or are really different devices like the Gunn and laser diode and the ]:
-]s


-]s
Normal (p–n) diodes, which operate as described above, are usually made of doped ] or, more rarely, ]. Before the development of silicon power rectifier diodes, ] and later ] was used. Their low efficiency required a much higher forward voltage to be applied (typically 1.4 to 1.7&nbsp;V per "cell", with multiple cells stacked so as to increase the peak inverse voltage rating for application in high voltage rectifiers), and required a large heat sink (often an extension of the diode's metal ]), much larger than the later silicon diode of the same current ratings would require. The vast majority of all diodes are the p–n diodes found in ] ], which include two diodes per pin and many other internal diodes.

;]s
:These are diodes that conduct in the reverse direction when the reverse bias voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage. These are electrically very similar to Zener diodes (and are often mistakenly called Zener diodes), but break down by a different mechanism: the ''avalanche effect''. This occurs when the reverse electric field applied across the p–n junction causes a wave of ionization, reminiscent of an avalanche, leading to a large current. Avalanche diodes are designed to break down at a well-defined reverse voltage without being destroyed. The difference between the avalanche diode (which has a reverse breakdown above about 6.2&nbsp;V) and the Zener is that the channel length of the former exceeds the mean free path of the electrons, resulting in many collisions between them on the way through the channel. The only practical difference between the two types is they have temperature coefficients of opposite polarities.
;]
:These are a type of point-contact diode. The cat's whisker diode consists of a thin or sharpened metal wire pressed against a semiconducting crystal, typically ] or a piece of ]. The wire forms the anode and the crystal forms the cathode. Cat's whisker diodes were also called crystal diodes and found application in the earliest radios called ]s. Cat's whisker diodes are generally obsolete, but may be available from a few manufacturers.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Advanced Semiconducting Materials and Devices|last1=Gupta|first1=K. M.|last2=Gupta|first2=Nishu|publisher=]|year=2015|isbn=9783319197586|pages=236}}</ref>
;]s
:These are actually ]s<ref>. Digikey.com (2009-05-27). Retrieved 2013-12-19.</ref> with the gate shorted to the source, and function like a two-terminal current-limiting analog to the voltage-limiting Zener diode. They allow a current through them to rise to a certain value, and then level off at a specific value. Also called ''CLDs'', ''constant-current diodes'', ''diode-connected transistors'', or ''current-regulating diodes''.
;] or ]s
:These have a region of operation showing ] caused by ],<ref>{{cite journal|author=Jonscher, A. K. |doi=10.1088/0508-3443/12/12/304|title=The physics of the tunnel diode|year=1961|journal=British Journal of Applied Physics|volume=12|issue=12|page=654|bibcode = 1961BJAP...12..654J }}</ref> allowing amplification of signals and very simple bistable circuits. Because of the high carrier concentration, tunnel diodes are very fast, may be used at low (mK) temperatures, high magnetic fields, and in high radiation environments.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Dowdey, J. E. |author2=Travis, C. M. |doi= 10.1109/TNS2.1964.4315475|title=An Analysis of Steady-State Nuclear Radiation Damage of Tunnel Diodes|year=1964|journal=IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science|volume=11|issue=5|page=55|bibcode = 1964ITNS...11...55D }}</ref> Because of these properties, they are often used in spacecraft.
;]s
:These are similar to tunnel diodes in that they are made of materials such as GaAs or InP that exhibit a region of ]. With appropriate biasing, dipole domains form and travel across the diode, allowing high frequency ] ] to be built.
;]s (LEDs)
:In a diode formed from a ] semiconductor, such as ], charge carriers that cross the junction emit ]s when they recombine with the majority carrier on the other side. Depending on the material, ]s (or colors)<ref>. Digikey.com (2009-05-27). Retrieved 2013-12-19.</ref> from the ] to the near ] may be produced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.element-14.com/community/docs/DOC-22517/l/component-construction--vishay-optoelectronics |title=Component Construction|date=2010-05-25 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> The forward potential of these diodes depends on the wavelength of the emitted photons: 2.1&nbsp;V corresponds to red, 4.0&nbsp;V to violet. The first LEDs were red and yellow, and higher-frequency diodes have been developed over time. All LEDs produce incoherent, narrow-spectrum light; "white" LEDs are actually combinations of three LEDs of a different color, or a blue LED with a yellow ] coating. LEDs can also be used as low-efficiency photodiodes in signal applications. An LED may be paired with a photodiode or phototransistor in the same package, to form an ].
;]s
:When an LED-like structure is contained in a ] formed by polishing the parallel end faces, a ] can be formed. Laser diodes are commonly used in ] devices and for high speed ].
;]s
:This term is used both for conventional p–n diodes used to monitor temperature because of their varying forward voltage with temperature, and for ] for ]. Peltier heat pumps may be made from semiconductor, though they do not have any rectifying junctions, they use the differing behaviour of charge carriers in N and P type semiconductor to move heat.
;Perun's diodes
:This is a special type of voltage-surge protection diode. It is characterized by the symmetrical voltage-current characteristic, similar to ]. It has much faster response time however, that's why it is used in demanding applications.
;]s
:All semiconductors are subject to optical ] generation. This is typically an undesired effect, so most semiconductors are packaged in light blocking material. Photodiodes are intended to sense light(]), so they are packaged in materials that allow light to pass, and are usually PIN (the kind of diode most sensitive to light).<ref>. Digikey.com (2009-05-27). Retrieved 2013-12-19.</ref> A photodiode can be used in ]s, in ], or in ]s. Multiple photodiodes may be packaged in a single device, either as a linear array or as a two-dimensional array. These arrays should not be confused with ]s.
;]s
:A PIN diode has a central un-doped, or ''intrinsic'', layer, forming a p-type/intrinsic/n-type structure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.element-14.com/community/docs/DOC-22516/l/physics-and-technology--vishay-optoelectronics |title=Physics and Technology|date=2010-05-25 |accessdate=2010-08-06}}</ref> They are used as radio frequency switches and attenuators. They are also used as large-volume, ionizing-radiation detectors and as ]s. PIN diodes are also used in ], as their central layer can withstand high voltages. Furthermore, the PIN structure can be found in many ]s, such as ]s, power ]s, and ]s.
;]s
:] diodes are constructed from a metal to semiconductor contact. They have a lower forward voltage drop than p–n junction diodes. Their forward voltage drop at forward currents of about 1&nbsp;mA is in the range 0.15&nbsp;V to 0.45&nbsp;V, which makes them useful in voltage ] and prevention of transistor saturation. They can also be used as low loss ]s, although their reverse leakage current is in general higher than that of other diodes. Schottky diodes are ] devices and so do not suffer from minority carrier storage problems that slow down many other diodes—so they have a faster reverse recovery than p–n junction diodes. They also tend to have much lower junction capacitance than p–n diodes, which provides for high switching speeds and their use in high-speed circuitry and RF devices such as ], ]s, and ].
;Super barrier diodes
:Super barrier diodes are rectifier diodes that incorporate the low forward voltage drop of the Schottky diode with the surge-handling capability and low reverse leakage current of a normal p–n junction diode.
;]-doped diodes
:As a dopant, gold (or ]) acts as recombination centers, which helps a fast recombination of minority carriers. This allows the diode to operate at signal frequencies, at the expense of a higher forward voltage drop. Gold-doped diodes are faster than other p–n diodes (but not as fast as Schottky diodes). They also have less reverse-current leakage than Schottky diodes (but not as good as other p–n diodes).<ref>. (PDF). Retrieved 2013-12-19.</ref><ref>Sze, S. M. (1998) ''Modern Semiconductor Device Physics'', Wiley Interscience, {{ISBN|0-471-15237-4}}</ref> A typical example is the 1N914.
;Snap-off or ]s
: The term ''step recovery'' relates to the form of the reverse recovery characteristic of these devices. After a forward current has been passing in an ] and the current is interrupted or reversed, the reverse conduction will cease very abruptly (as in a step waveform). SRDs can, therefore, provide very fast voltage transitions by the very sudden disappearance of the charge carriers.
;]s or ''Forward Reference Diodes''
: The term ''stabistor'' refers to a special type of diodes featuring extremely stable ] characteristics. These devices are specially designed for low-voltage stabilization applications requiring a guaranteed voltage over a wide current range and highly stable over temperature.
;] (TVS)
:These are avalanche diodes designed specifically to protect other semiconductor devices from high-voltage ].<ref>. Digikey.com (2009-05-27). Retrieved 2013-12-19.</ref> Their p–n junctions have a much larger cross-sectional area than those of a normal diode, allowing them to conduct large currents to ground without sustaining damage.
;] or varactor diodes
: These are used as voltage-controlled ]. These are important in PLL (]) and FLL (]) circuits, allowing tuning circuits, such as those in television receivers, to lock quickly on to the frequency. They also enabled tunable oscillators in early discrete tuning of radios, where a cheap and stable, but fixed-frequency, crystal oscillator provided the reference frequency for a ].
;]s
:These can be made to conduct in reverse bias (backward), and are correctly termed reverse breakdown diodes. This effect, called ], occurs at a precisely defined voltage, allowing the diode to be used as a precision voltage reference. The term Zener diode is colloquially applied to several types of breakdown diodes, but strictly speaking Zener diodes have a breakdown voltage of below 5 volts, whilst avalanche diodes are used for breakdown voltages above that value. In practical voltage reference circuits, Zener and switching diodes are connected in series and opposite directions to balance the temperature coefficient response of the diodes to near-zero. Some devices labeled as high-voltage Zener diodes are actually avalanche diodes (see above). Two (equivalent) Zeners in series and in reverse order, in the same package, constitute a transient absorber (or ], a registered trademark).

Other uses for semiconductor diodes include the sensing of temperature, and computing analog ]s (see ]).

==Numbering and coding schemes==
There are a number of common, standard and manufacturer-driven numbering and coding schemes for diodes; the two most common being the ]/] standard and the European ] standard:

===EIA/JEDEC===
The standardized 1N-series numbering '']'' system was introduced in the US by EIA/JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) about 1960. Most diodes have a 1-prefix designation (e.g., 1N4003). Among the most popular in this series were: 1N34A/1N270 (germanium signal), 1N914/] (silicon signal), ] (silicon 1A power rectifier), and ] (silicon 3A power rectifier).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jedec.org/Home/about_jedec.cfm |title=About JEDEC |publisher=Jedec.org |accessdate=2008-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.elektroda.net/introduction-dates-of-common-transistors-and-diodes-t94332.html |title=Introduction dates of common transistors and diodes? |publisher=EDAboard.com |date=2010-06-10 |accessdate=2010-08-06 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011133032/http://news.elektroda.net/introduction-dates-of-common-transistors-and-diodes-t94332.html |archivedate=October 11, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://semiconductormuseum.com/Museum_Index.htm |title=Transistor Museum Construction Projects Point Contact Germanium Western Electric Vintage Historic Semiconductors Photos Alloy Junction Oral History |publisher=Semiconductormuseum.com |author=I.D.E.A |accessdate=2008-09-22}}</ref>

===JIS===
The ] system has all semiconductor diode designations starting with "1S".

===Pro Electron===
The European ] coding system for ]s was introduced in 1966 and comprises two letters followed by the part code. The first letter represents the semiconductor material used for the component (A = germanium and B = silicon) and the second letter represents the general function of the part (for diodes, A = low-power/signal, B = variable capacitance, X = multiplier, Y = rectifier and Z = voltage reference); for example:

*AA-series germanium low-power/signal diodes (e.g., AA119)
*BA-series silicon low-power/signal diodes (e.g., BAT18 silicon RF switching diode)
*BY-series silicon rectifier diodes (e.g., BY127 1250V, 1A rectifier diode)
*BZ-series silicon Zener diodes (e.g., BZY88C4V7 4.7V Zener diode)

Other common numbering / coding systems (generally manufacturer-driven) include:

*GD-series germanium diodes (e.g., GD9){{spaced ndash}}this is a very old coding system
*OA-series germanium diodes (e.g., OA47){{spaced ndash}}a ] developed by ], a UK company

As well as these common codes, many manufacturers or organisations have their own systems too{{spaced ndash}}for example:

*HP diode 1901-0044 = JEDEC 1N4148
*UK military diode CV448 = Mullard type OA81 = ] type GEX23

==Related devices==
*]
*]
*] or silicon controlled rectifier (SCR)
*]
*]
*]
In optics, an equivalent device for the diode but with laser light would be the ], also known as an Optical Diode, that allows light to only pass in one direction. It uses a ] as the main component.

==Applications==

===Radio demodulation===
] circuit.]]
The first use for the diode was the demodulation of ] (AM) radio broadcasts. The history of this discovery is treated in depth in the ] article. In summary, an AM signal consists of alternating positive and negative peaks of a radio carrier wave, whose ] or envelope is proportional to the original audio signal. The diode (originally a crystal diode) ] the AM radio frequency signal, leaving only the positive peaks of the carrier wave. The audio is then extracted from the rectified carrier wave using a simple ] and fed into an audio amplifier or ], which generates sound waves.

===Power conversion===
{{Main article|Rectifier}}
]

]s are constructed from diodes, where they are used to convert ] (AC) electricity into ] (DC). Automotive ]s are a common example, where the diode, which rectifies the AC into DC, provides better performance than the ] or earlier, ]. Similarly, diodes are also used in ''] ]s'' to convert AC into higher DC voltages.

===Over-voltage protection===
Diodes are frequently used to conduct damaging high voltages away from sensitive electronic devices. They are usually reverse-biased (non-conducting) under normal circumstances. When the voltage rises above the normal range, the diodes become forward-biased (conducting). For example, diodes are used in (] and ]) ] and ] circuits to de-energize coils rapidly without the damaging ]s that would otherwise occur. (A diode used in such an application is called a ]). Many ] also incorporate diodes on the connection pins to prevent external voltages from damaging their sensitive ]. Specialized diodes are used to protect from over-voltages at higher power (see ] above).

===Logic gates===
Diodes can be combined with other components to construct ] and ] ]s. This is referred to as ].

===Ionizing radiation detectors===
In addition to light, mentioned above, ] diodes are sensitive to more ] radiation. In ], ]s and other sources of ionizing radiation cause ] ]s and single and multiple bit errors.
This effect is sometimes exploited by ]s to detect radiation. A single particle of radiation, with thousands or millions of ]s of energy, generates many charge carrier pairs, as its energy is deposited in the semiconductor material. If the depletion layer is large enough to catch the whole shower or to stop a heavy particle, a fairly accurate measurement of the particle's energy can be made, simply by measuring the charge conducted and without the complexity of a magnetic spectrometer, etc.
These semiconductor radiation detectors need efficient and uniform charge collection and low leakage current. They are often cooled by ]. For longer-range (about a centimetre) particles, they need a very large depletion depth and large area. For short-range particles, they need any contact or un-depleted semiconductor on at least one surface to be very thin. The back-bias voltages are near breakdown (around a thousand volts per centimetre). Germanium and silicon are common materials. Some of these detectors sense position as well as energy.
They have a finite life, especially when detecting heavy particles, because of radiation damage. Silicon and germanium are quite different in their ability to convert ]s to electron showers.

]s for high-energy particles are used in large numbers. Because of energy loss fluctuations, accurate measurement of the energy deposited is of less use.

===Temperature measurements===
A diode can be used as a ] measuring device, since the forward voltage drop across the diode depends on temperature, as in a ]. From the Shockley ideal diode equation given above, it might ''appear'' that the voltage has a ''positive'' temperature coefficient (at a constant current), but usually the variation of the ] term is more significant than the variation in the thermal voltage term. Most diodes therefore have a ''negative'' temperature coefficient, typically −2 mV/˚C for silicon diodes. The temperature coefficient is approximately constant for temperatures above about 20 ]s. Some graphs are given for 1N400x series,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cliftonlaboratories.com/1n400x_diode_family_forward_voltage.htm |title=1N400x Diode Family Forward Voltage |website=cliftonlaboratories.com |access-date=2013-12-19 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524153406/http://www.cliftonlaboratories.com/1n400x_diode_family_forward_voltage.htm |archivedate=2013-05-24}}</ref> and CY7 cryogenic temperature sensor.<ref>. omega.com</ref>

===Current steering===
Diodes will prevent currents in unintended directions. To supply power to an electrical circuit during a power failure, the circuit can draw current from a ]. An ] may use diodes in this way to ensure that current is only drawn from the battery when necessary. Likewise, small boats typically have two circuits each with their own battery/batteries: one used for engine starting; one used for domestics. Normally, both are charged from a single alternator, and a heavy-duty split-charge diode is used to prevent the higher-charge battery (typically the engine battery) from discharging through the lower-charge battery when the alternator is not running.

Diodes are also used in ]. To reduce the amount of wiring needed in electronic musical keyboards, these instruments often use ]s. The keyboard controller scans the rows and columns to determine which note the player has pressed. The problem with matrix circuits is that, when several notes are pressed at once, the current can flow backwards through the circuit and trigger "]" that cause "ghost" notes to play. To avoid triggering unwanted notes, most keyboard matrix circuits have diodes soldered with the switch under each key of the ]. The same principle is also used for the switch matrix in solid-state ]s.

===Waveform Clipper===
{{main article|Clipper (electronics)}}
Diodes can be used to limit the positive or negative excursion of a signal to a prescribed voltage.

===Clamper===
{{main article|Clamper (electronics)}}
]
A diode ] can take a periodic alternating current signal that oscillates between positive and negative values, and vertically displace it such that either the positive, or the negative peaks occur at a prescribed level. The clamper does not restrict the peak-to-peak excursion of the signal, it moves the whole signal up or down so as to place the peaks at the reference level.

==Abbreviations==
Diodes are usually referred to as ''D'' for diode on ]. Sometimes the abbreviation ''CR'' for ''crystal rectifier'' is used.<ref>{{cite book|author=John Ambrose Fleming|year=1919|url=https://books.google.com/?id=xHNBAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA550|title=The Principles of Electric Wave Telegraphy and Telephony|place=London|publisher=Longmans, Green|page=550}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Electronics}}
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Diodes}}
* – Chapter on All About Circuits
* – PowerGuru

;Interactive and animations
*, University of Cambridge
*

;Datasheets / Databooks
* , National Semiconductor (now Texas Instruments)
* , SGS (now STMicroelectronics)
* , Fairchild

{{Electronic component}}
{{Authority control}}

]
]
]
]

Revision as of 15:40, 20 March 2018

Semiconductor diodes

Electronic symbols

Main article: Electronic symbol

The symbol used for a semiconductor diode in a circuit diagram specifies the type of diode. There are alternative symbols for some types of diodes, though the differences are minor. The triangle in the symbols points to the forward direction, i.e. in the direction of conventional current flow.

A galena cat's-whisker detector, a point-contact diode.

Point-contact diodes

A point-contact diode works the same as the junction diodes described below, but its construction is simpler. A pointed metal wire is placed in contact with an n-type semiconductor. Some metal migrates into the semiconductor to make a small p-type region around the contact. The 1N34 germanium version is still used in radio receivers as a detector and occasionally in specialized analog electronics.

Junction diodes

p–n junction diode

Main article: p–n diode

A p–n junction diode is made of a crystal of semiconductor, usually silicon, but germanium and gallium arsenide are also used. Impurities are added to it to create a region on one side that contains negative charge carriers (electrons), called an n-type semiconductor, and a region on the other side that contains positive charge carriers (holes), called a p-type semiconductor. When the n-type and p-type materials are attached together, a momentary flow of electrons occur from the n to the p side resulting in a third region between the two where no charge carriers are present. This region is called the depletion region because there are no charge carriers (neither electrons nor holes) in it. The diode's terminals are attached to the n-type and p-type regions. The boundary between these two regions, called a p–n junction, is where the action of the diode takes place. When a sufficiently higher electrical potential is applied to the P side (the anode) than to the N side (the cathode), it allows electrons to flow through the depletion region from the N-type side to the P-type side. The junction does not allow the flow of electrons in the opposite direction when the potential is applied in reverse, creating, in a sense, an electrical check valve.

Types of semiconductor diode

There are several types of p–n junction diodes, which emphasize either a different physical aspect of a diode often by geometric scaling, doping level, choosing the right electrodes, are just an application of a diode in a special circuit, or are really different devices like the Gunn and laser diode and the MOSFET: -Avalanche diodes

-Gunn diodes