What is depletion region

When the p-type and the n-type materials are kept in contact with each other, the junction
between them behaves differently from either side of the material alone. The electrons and
holes are close to each other at the junction. According to coulomb’s law, there is a force
between the negative electrons and the positive holes. When the p-n junction is formed a few
electrons from the n-type diffuse through the junction and combines with the holes in the p-side
to form negative ions and leaves behind positive ions in the n-side. This results in the formation
of the depletion layer, which acts as the barrier and does not allow any further flow of electrons
from the n region to the p region.

What is the effect of forward and reverse biasing on depletion layer?

Solution

1. A p-n junction of a diode is the interface between a p-type and an n-type semiconductor.
A p-type semiconductor has an extra number of holes whereas an n-type semiconductor
contains an extra number of electrons.
2. At the junction, the electrons from the n-type get attracted to the positive holes from the
p-type side. Some of the electrons combine with the holes, thereby making the p-side
negatively charged and the n-side positively charged near the junction. This creates an
electric field within the semiconductor.
3. The combination of electrons and holes stops once the generated electric field at the
junction opposes the diffusion of electrons from the n-side. This charged region at the
junction is known as the depletion layer.
4. If a higher potential and a lower potential is applied on the two sides of a p-n junction,
the diode is said to biased
Distinguish between Avalanche breakdown and Zener breakdown.
Solution

Avalanche breakdown Zener breakdown

i) When both sides of the PN junction are

i) When both sides of the PN junction are lightly doped and
heavily doped, consequently the
the depletion layer becomes large, Avalanche breakdown
depletion layer is narrow and zener
takes place.
breakdown takes place.

ii) The electric field across the depletion layer is not so ii) When a small reverse bias is applied, a
strong. very strong electric field is produced.

iii) The field breaks the covalent bonds,

iii) Due to the collision with valence electrons, covalent
extremely large number of electrons and
bonds are broken and electron hole are generated.
holes are produced.

iv) These charge carriers acquired energy from the applied iv) The electrons and holes thus give rise
potential and in turn produce more and more carriers. This to the reverse saturation current (Zener
cumulative process is called avalanche multiplication and the current) Zener current is independent of
breakdown is called avalanche breakdown. applied voltage.

Draw a suitable circuit on the operation of the zener diode

What is displaccrment current

derive an expression fo displacement current

when a capacitor is charging, no conduction is to be observed between the plates of the conductor. But,
with time due to the change in accumulation of charges above the plates of the conductor, the electric
field changes. This leads to displacement current which is of the form –

D
=

Where

ID refers to the displacement current

JD refers to the displacement current density

S refers to the area of the capacitor plate

ε is the permittivity of the medium in between the plates

D is related to the electric field E as D=εE

So, displacement current can be calculated by-

id = ε0 (dQ/dt)

The SI unit for this displacement current is Ampere(A).

The sources of a magnetic field can be-

The conduction electric current occurs due to the flow of the charges.

The displacement current occurs due to the rate of change of the electric field.

Therefore, the total current, which can be denoted as ‘i’, can be calculated as follows:
i = ic + id

= ic + ε0(dQ/dt)

Where i = the total current

ic = conduction current

id = displacement current

From the above equation, it can be implied that-

Outside of the plates of the capacitor: ic=i and id=0

Inside of the plates of the capacitor: ic=0 and id=i

Hence, it can be said that the current that arises due to the changing electric field is known as the
displacement current.

What is dielectric polarisation

Dielectric polarization occurs when a dipole moment is formed in an insulating

material because of an externally applied electric field. When a current interacts
with a dielectric (insulating) material, the dielectric material will respond with a
shift in charge distribution with the positive charges aligning with the electric
field and the negative charges aligning against it

The energy is released in the form of photons on recombination. In standard diodes, the energy is
released in the form of heat. But in light-emitting diodes, the energy is released in the form of photons.
We call this phenomenon electroluminescence. Electroluminescence is an optical phenomenon, and
electrical phenomenon where a material emits light in response to an electric current passed through it.
As the forward voltage increases, the intensity of the light increases and reaches a maximum.wtwhwh