Project #1: The I-V Characteristics of the Diode

Introduction

• The I-V Characteristic Curves, which is short for Current-Voltage

Characteristic Curves or simply I-V curves of an electrical device or component, are
a set of graphical curves which are used to define its operation within an electrical
circuit. As its name suggests, I-V characteristic curves show the relationship between
the current flowing through an electronic device and the applied voltage across its
terminals.

Part I: Theory
The diode is the electronic equivalent of a mechanical check valve - it permits current to
flow in one direction in a circuit, but prevents movement of current in the opposite direction.
We will find that this nonlinear behavior has many useful applications in electronic circuit
design. To understand this phenomenon, we explore the relationship between the current in
the diode and the voltage applied to the diode. This information, called the i -v characteristic
of the diode, is presented graphically in this section.
The current in the diode is determined by the voltage applied across the diode terminals,
and the diode is shown with a voltage applied in Fig. 3.6. Voltage vD represents the voltage
applied between the diode terminals; iD is the current through the diode. The neutral regions
of the diode represent a low resistance to current, and essentially all the external applied
voltage is dropped across the space charge region.
A positive applied voltage reduces the potential barrier for electrons and holes, as in
Fig. 3.7, and current easily crosses the junction. A negative voltage increases the potential
barrier, and the increased barrier results in a very small current.
 The most important details of the diode i-v characteristic appear in Fig. 3.8. The diode
characteristic is definitely not linear. For voltages less than zero, the diode is essentially
nonconducting, with iD ∼= 0. As the voltage increases above zero, the current remains nearly
zero until the voltage vD exceeds approximately 0.5 to 0.7 V. At this point, the diode current
increases rapidly, and the voltage across the diode becomes almost independent of current.
The voltage required to bring the diode into significant conduction is often called either the
turn-on or cut-in voltage of the diode.
Figure 3.9 is an enlargement of the region around the origin in Fig. 3.8. We see that the i
-v characteristic passes through the origin; the current is zero when the applied voltage is zero.
For negative voltages the current is not actually zero but reaches a limiting value labeled
as −IS for voltages less than −0.1 V. IS is called the reverse saturation current, or just
saturation current, of the diode.

Part II: Practice

Background: Before doing this experiment, students should be able to

• Analyze simple circuits consisting of combinations of resistors and diodes.

• Measure resistance using Digital Multimeter (DMM)
• Build simple circuits consisting of combinations of resistors and diodes and
measure input and output voltages and currents.

Learning outcomes: Students will be able to

• Measure I-V curves for resistors and diodes experimentally.

• Understand the difference in behavior of resistors and diodes
Equipment required:

• DC power source
• Digital multimeter
• Resistors 1k
• Diodes
 Experiment

I-V characteristic curve of a resistor

Circuit construction

 C-1. Construct the circuit illustrated in Figure 2.1

Figure 2.1: The circuit for I-V characteristic of a resistor

Table 2.1. I-V characteristic of resistor

Voltage -5 5
(V)

Current
(mA)

Procedure 1: Measure and plot the I-V curve of a resistor

• Increase the voltage of the power source from -5 V to 5 V with each step of
0.5V, then measure the current correspondingly and write it down in table 2.1
• Plot the obtained data in graph 1

 C-2. Construct the circuit illustrated in Figure 2.2

Figure 2.2. The circuit for I-V characteristic of a diode

Procedure 2: Measure and plot the I-V curve for a diode

• Increase the voltage of the power source from 0 V to 10 V with each step of
0.1 V for the range of 0.5 V to 1V (at the open voltage of the diode) then increase
0.5V for the rest of the range and measure the current through the diode.
 • Repeat the measurement for reverse current with the voltage from 0 V to -5V.
• Write down the data in tables 2.1 and 2.2
• Plot the obtained data in graph 2 (or same on graph 1)

Table 2.1. Forward current

Current
(mA)

Voltage
(V)

Table 2.1. Reverse current

Current
(mA)

Voltage
(V)

Questions

1. Based on the I-V characteristic of the resistor, calculate the resistance and compare the
value to its colour code.
2. Explain the difference in I-V curves of the resistor and the diode.
3. Based on the I-V characteristic of the diode, estimate the turn-on voltage.
 Name:
Class:
Date:
Lab Project 1: Answer and Evaluation

The I-V Characteristics of the Diode

Graph 1. I-V curve of the resistor

Graph 2. I-V curve of the diode

 Table 2.1. I-V characteristic of resistor

Voltage -5 5
(V)
Current
(mA)
Table 2.1. Forward current

Current
(mA)
Voltage
(V)

Table 2.1. Reverse current

Current
(mA)
Voltage
(V)
1. Based on the I-V characteristic of the resistor, calculate the resistance and compare the
value to its colour code.
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2. Explain the difference in I-V curves of the resistor and the diode

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3. Based on the I-V characteristic of the diode, estimate the turn-on voltage.

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