EE-301 Lab Manual, ME Department, Wah Engineering College

Lab Experiment # 3

Verification of characteristics curve of Silicon diode

Objective:- To verify the characteristics curve of Silicon diode.

.
Apparatus:

 Silicon diode
 DC power supply
 1 kilo ohm resister
 1 mega ohm resister
 DMM(digital multi meter)
Introduction:

Diodes:-

When a p-type and n-type semiconductors are combined the p-n junction is formed so called as
diode. In electronics, a diode is a two-terminal electronic component with
symmetric conductance; it has low (ideally zero) resistance to current flow in one direction, and
high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other.

Figure-1 Symbol

Characteristics of Ideal Diode are those of a switch that conduct current only in one direction.

Forward Biasing of Diode:-

In forward bias, electrons are injected into the p-material and holes into the n-material. The
electrons in the n-type material are called majority carriers on that side, but any that make it to
the p-type side are called minority carriers. The same descriptors apply to holes: they are
majority carriers on the p-type side, and minority carriers on the n-type side.
 EE-301 Lab Manual, ME Department, Wah Engineering College

Figure-2 Forward Bias

Reverse Biasing of Diode:-

Reverse Biasing is the condition that essentially prevents current through the diode, as we can
see below in figure that a dc voltage source connected across a diode in the direction to produce
reverse biasing.  This external Bias voltage is designated as V BIAS just as it was for forward
bias.  Notice that the positive side of V BIAS is connected to the n region of the diode and the
negative side is connected to the p region.  Also note that the depletion region is shown much
wider than in forward bias or equilibrium.

Figure-3 Reverse Bias

Applications of Diodes:-
Diodes have a large numbers of applications such as
 Signal rectifier
 Diode gate
 Diode clamps
 Limiter
 EE-301 Lab Manual, ME Department, Wah Engineering College

The most commonly used diodes are either of silicon or germanium. In this lab we are going to
study silicon diode, its behavior and characteristic curve.

Procedure:

1. First of all we check diode by using DMM and come to know that it is properly working
and see readings as written in table no. 1.
2. Than we patch the circuit i.e. attach one kilo ohm resistance in series with silicon diode
on bread board.
3. After that we attach a DC source to the circuit in such a way that circuit is forward
biased.
4. After that we apply 0.1 to 1 volts across resistance with the increment of 0.1 volt and than
from 1 to 10 volt with the increment of 1 volt.
5. At each increment we check current and voltage across diode and record it into the table
no.2 and compare readings with theoretically calculated.
6. After that we reverse the terminals of the battery, replace 1 kilo ohm resistance with 1
mega ohm resistance and operate the diode in reverse biased.
7. Than we apply voltage, but at any voltage diode did not conduct as we know that diode
act like insulator in reverse biased during normal conditions
8. After that by using current across diode and voltage across diode we calculate
Rdc(resistance of diode)and note it into the table no.2.
9. After that by using reading of current and voltage from table no.1 we plot a graph
between voltage and current.

Observation and calculations:

Diode test table

Test Forward biased voltage Reverse biased voltage
silicon 409 224
Table-1

Current and voltage across diode in forward biased

SR# Vsupply VAK IAK

1 0 0.07 0
2 0.1 0.12 0
3 0.2 0.25 0
4 0.3 0.39 0
 EE-301 Lab Manual, ME Department, Wah Engineering College

5 0.4 0.41 0
6 0.5 0.47 0
7 0.6 0.49 0.3
8 0.7 0.56 0.5
9 0.8 0.56 1.3
10 0.9 0.57 3.3
11 1 0.59 5.1
12 2 0.64 15.1
13 3 0.66 25.8
14 4 0.68 35.7
Table-2

Graph-1

Conclusions:

From this lab we have concluded that silicon diode’s conductivity is very small till 0.7 volts. So,
very minute current flow till 0.7 volt because potential barrier of silicon diode is 0.7 volts. But as
we increase voltage from 0.7 it acts as a good conductor and more current starts to flow.