INTRODUCTION TO SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

Laboratory Experiment No. __

Performance Objectives

A. Identify the anode and cathode, and test a semiconductor diode by performing a forward-
reverse resistance check using an ohmmeter.
B. Observe how forward and reverse bias voltages affect current flow through a
semiconductor diode.
C. Demonstrate the voltage-current relationship of a semiconductor diode by plotting the
curve.

Basic Concepts

1. A PN junction diode is a semiconductor device, which permits current to flow through it in

one direction only.
2. The P (positive) type material in a PN junction is the anode while the N (negative) type
material is the cathode.
3. The anode must have a positive voltage applied to it (with respect to the cathode) to
allow forward diode current to flow.
4. Semiconductor diodes have low forward resistance and very high reverse resistance.

Introduction

Electronics is concerned with the theory and application of devices, which control current and
voltage. Included among these are semiconductor (solid-state) devices such as diodes.
Semiconductors (as the name applies) are materials whose resistivity lies between that of
conductors and insulators.

A semiconductor diode is made of materials that are partial conductors, usually silicon or
germanium. Part of the semiconductor is treated in such a way as to have an excess of electrons
(N type material). The other part of the semiconductor is treated to have a deficiency of
electrons (P type material). Such diode is often called a PN junction. See Fig. 1(a).

Fig. 1

A voltage barrier forms at the junction between the two kinds of material, preventing the
electrons in the N material from moving over to the P material. However, when a voltage is
applied, with polarities as shown, the barrier is overcome and electrons flow from N to P. Under
this condition the PN junction is said to be forward biased. Current will continue to flow as long
as the external voltage is applied. When the applied voltage polarity is reversed little or no
current will flow through the PN junction. Under this condition the PN junction is said to be
reverse biased. Conventional current flows through the diode in the direction of the arrow,
while electrons flow in the direction opposite the arrow.

The schematic symbol used for all solid state diodes is shown in Fig. 1b. Voltage polarities
necessary for forward current to flow are labeled on the symbol.

The semiconductor diode is used in electronics as a rectifier, detector, clamper, limiter, and logic
switch. Some diodes are manufactured to carry hundreds of amperes of current, others maybe
required to detect extremely weak radio signals, while others maybe designed to switch rapidly
from the conducting to non-conducting state. The ideal diode exhibits the same characteristics
as a switch; when biased in the forward direction it has zero resistance (short circuit) and
maximum current can flow through it; when biased in the reversed direction., it has infinite
resistance (open circuit) zero current through it. The ideal diode of course, does not exist. All
forward biased diodes have a voltage drop across them as current flow and all reversed biased
diodes have some reverse or leakage current flow.

A typical diode characteristics curve is shown in Fig. 2. The curve shows that very little forward
bias voltage is needed to produce a large current flow, and of course, the reverse is also true - a
very high reverse bias voltage is needed to produce any reverse current flow. The reverse
voltage shown is usually in tens or hundreds of volts while the forward is in tenths of volts. The
curve shows a very small reverse leakage current (in microamperes) when in the reverse bias
condition. As the reverse voltage across the diode is increased a point is reached where voltage
breakdown occurs, causing the small leakage current to increase very rapidly; the diode is
destroyed if the maximum current and junction temperature are not limited by the circuit.

Figure 2
Equipment and Materials

Power Source 0-40 Vdc, 10mA

Milliammeter 0-0.1, 10mAdc
Voltmeter 0-3 Vdc
Multitester
Practical Electronics Trainer
CR1 - CR4 Silicon diodes
R1 10K, 1W
Breadboard

Procedure

Objective A. Identify the anode and cathode, and test a semiconductor diode by performing a
forward-reverse resistance check using an ohmmeter.
1.a) Examine the four silicon diode CR1 - CR4, and identify the cathode and anode terminals.
The cathode end of a diode is usually marked by a circular band or by a dot of paint on the
case or lead. Sometimes the diode symbol is marked on the outer case. Describe how the
cathodes of diodes CR1 - CR4 are marked. __________________________________
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b) First, the polarity of the ohmmeter supply voltage at the leads must be determined by
checking with a voltmeter. Set the Electronic VOM to the ohm function on the RX1 range
and set the dc voltmeter to the 0-3Vdc range.

c) Connect the common lead of the Electronic VOM to the negative terminal of the dc
voltmeter. Connect the Ohm's lead of the Electronic VOM to the positive terminal of the
dc voltmeter.

d) Record the polarity of the ohmmeter leads and the voltage indicated by the voltmeter.
common lead = __________
Ohm's lead = __________
RX1 range = __________ Vdc

e) Verify that the ohmmeter supply voltage at the leads remains constant as the resistance
range is increased through RX10 and RX100 to RX1meg. This can be done by connecting
high input impedance Electronic VOM across the ohmmeter leads in place of the panel
voltmeter. The current drawn by the relatively low impedance panel voltmeter
introduces an error when measuring the voltage of the higher ohmmeter ranges.

Set the VOM to the LP ohms (low power ohms) function and repeat the voltage measurement of
Procedure (d). Is the ohmmeter voltage much lower when in the LP ohm function?
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2.a) An ohmmeter test of a good diode will reveal that the diode has low forward resistance and
high back resistance. Thus, if the positive ohmmeter lead is connected to the anode and the
negative lead is to the cathode, the diode will be forward biased. Current will flow, and the
diode will have low resistance.

Return the VOM to the ohm function and set it to the RX10 range. Zero your meter.

b) Connect the common lead (negative) to the cathode end of one of the silicon diodes, and
the Ohm's lead (positive) to the anode end. The diode is now in the forward bias
condition as shown in Fig. 3a.

c) Measure the forward resistance of each silicon diode.

CR1 forward resistance = ______________
CR2 forward resistance = ______________
CR3 forward resistance = ______________
CR4 forward resistance = ______________

Fig. 3

d) Reverse the diode connections so the anode is connected to common lead, and the
cathode to the Ohm's lead. The diode is now in reverse bias condition as shown in Fig.
3b. Use the highest resistance of each silicon diode.
CR1 reverse resistance = _______________
CR2 reverse resistance = _______________
CR3 reverse resistance = _______________
CR4 reverse resistance = _______________

Objective B. Observe how forward and reverse bias voltages affect current flow through a
semiconductor diode.

3.a) Connect the circuit shown in Fig. 4. Be sure the polarity of the milliammeter and the diode
are correct. Series resistor R1 is included as a protective device only and will limit the power
supply current to a safe value.
 Fig. 4

b) Gradually increase the source voltage E S until the milliammeter indicates 0.02mAdc of
forward diode current IF. Record the diode forward voltage drop EF in Table 1.

c) Repeat and record E F for each of the IF steps listed in the Table. Change the range of the
milliammter to 1mAdc when required.

d) Return the voltage to zero and reverse the connections to the silicon diode.

e) Change the milliammeter range to 0.1mAdc and the VOM range to 50Vdc.

f) Adjust the source voltage to 40Vdc and measure the diode reverse (leakage) current I R.

IR indicated = ____________uAdc

IF EF IF EF
0.02mA 0.4mA
0.04mA 0.6mA
0.06mA 0.8mA
0.08mA 1mA
0.1mA 2mA

0.2mA 3mA

Table 1
 Fig. 5

6-5
g) Is any of the indicated leakage current IR due to the presence of the Electronic VOM in the
circuit? ____________________________________________________________
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h) Return the voltage to zero.

Objective C. Demonstrate the voltage-current relationship of a semiconductor diode by plotting
a curve.

4.a) Plot the obtained data in Procedure 3 on the graph shown in Fig. 5. Draw a smooth curve
through your plotted points.
 b) Examine your plotted curve and note that the diode forward voltage drop E F increase
with the forward current flow IF until a point is reached where EF remains relatively
constant while IF continues to increase. At this point, the diode is said to be completely
forward biased. At approximately what voltage is the diode completely forward biased?
EF =___________ Vdc

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Conclusion