UNIT-1 Topic 4

V-I characteristics of a diode.

To understand the operation of diodes in forward and reverse biased conditions, different
voltages are applied across it and a graph is plotted between current and voltage. This graph
is called characteristics of a diode.

A diode with a series resistance is connected across a variable DC source. An ammeter is

connected in series to measure the current through the diode. A voltmeter is connected
across the source to measure the DC voltage.

The circuit and the graph obtained are shown in the figure above.

The input DC voltage source is set to zero volt. The positive of the DC source is connected
to the anode and negative to the cathode of the diode. Thus the diode is forward biased. The
voltage is gradually increased in the intervals of 0.1 volt. The corresponding values of current
are measured in microamps or milliamps. The voltage is increased to about 1.2 volts. The
graph is plotted between voltage on X axis and current on Y axis.

It is seen in the graph that (for silicon diode), below 0.7 volts, the current is almost zero.
When the forward voltage exceeds the diode’s barrier voltage (0.7 volts), the diode gets fully
forward biased and the conduction starts. The forward current increases rapidly for a very
small increase in voltage.

Likewise, when the diode is reversed biased, and the voltage is gradually increased in volts,
the diode continues to block current. Only an extremely small leakage current flows due to
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 UNIT-1 Topic 4

minority carriers. The diode continues to block current through it until the reverse voltage
across the diode becomes greater than its breakdown voltage. At the breakdown voltage,
there is a sudden increase in reverse current producing a fairly straight line downward.