After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

➢ Explain the conditions that exist at the pn junction of an unbiased diode, a forward-biased diode and a reverse-biased diode.

➢ Describe the types of breakdown current caused by excessive reverse voltage across a diode.

➢ Explain the diode models

➢ Show how the zener diode is used and calculate various values related to its operation.

➢ Explain how a Varactor diode works

➢ List several optoelectronic devices and describe how each works

➢ Explain AC and DC resistance of a diode

➢ Analyze the diode circuits

➢ Explain how diode clipping circuits works and draw waveforms

➢ Explain how a clamper circuit works and draw waveforms

➢ Describe half-wave rectifier and full-wave rectifier

➢ Analyze a capacitor input filter and its surge current

➢ List the main parts of a DC power supply and explain the function of each circuit

➢ Describe the action of voltage multipliers

1. What are semiconductors?
“Semiconductirs are special class of elements having conductivity between that of a good conductor and that
of an insulator.”

2. Semi conductor material divide into two classes: (1) single-cristal (2) compound

3. Which has a repetitive crystal structure? “single-cristal”

4. Give some examples for single crystal semiconductors?

Germanium – Ge
Silicon – Si

5. Give some examples for compound semiconductors?

Galium arsenide – GaAs
Cadmium silfide – CdS
gallium nitride – GaN
gallium arsenide phosphide – GaAsP
 Each atom consists of a very small nucleus which is encircled by
moving electrons. The nucleus composed of protons and neutrons.
Resource links:
• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.circuitbread.com%2Fstudy-guides%2Fbasic-electronics%2Fintroduction-to-electronics&psig=AOvVaw1AXYdGgJUf9DXRX54536lt&ust=1666592665548000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjRxqFwoTCKDOwdDb9foCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
 ~
1 𝑐𝑚3
 (𝜇𝑛 )

Semiconductor Intrinsic Carrier/1 𝑐𝑚3

GaAs 1.7 X 106
Si 1.5 X 1010
Ge 2.5 X 1013

Semiconductor 𝑐𝑚2
𝜇𝑛 ( )
𝑉𝑠
Si 1500
Ge 3900
GaAs 8500

𝜇𝑛
➢

➢
 𝑒−
𝑒−

𝑒−
 𝑒−
𝑒−

𝑒−
𝑒− 𝑒−
𝑒− 𝑒−
 +
(−)
•
→

→
❖

36
➢

➢
→

➢
𝐼𝑠
𝐼𝑠
↑
↑ → 𝐼𝑠 ↑
𝑉𝐵𝑉

𝑉𝐵𝑉
 K A
5V
-12V
R A K

-5V

10V
5V
R A K

10V
 K A

-12V

-5V
The following figure shows a diode switching circuit typical of those used in digital
logic applications. A,B,C are inputs. Determine current(I) and output voltage (VO)

(a) If A = B = C = 0V
(b) If A=0, B=C=5V
(c) If A = B = C = 5V ,
10V
(a) If A = B = C = 0V
(a) If A=0, B=C=5V
(c) If A = B = C = 5V ,
❖
❖

❖
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