ZENER DIODE

• Invented by “C.Zener”.

• Heavily doped diode.

• Thin depletion region.

• Sharp break down voltage called zener voltage Vz.

• Forward characteristics are same as pn diode

characteristics.

1
CIRCUIT SYMBOL

Anode cathode

Fig 2. Circuit symbol of zener diode

• Arrow head indicates the direction of conventional

current flow.

• “Z” symbol at cathode is a indication for zener diode.

2
PHOTOS OF ZENER DIODES

K K
A A

Fig . photos of Zener Diodes

3
VI CHARACTERISTICS OF ZENER DIODE

Voltage versus current characteristics of zener diode.

Characteristics in forward bias.

Characteristics in reverse bias.

4
FORWARD BIAS CHARACTERSTICS

Anode cathode

V
Fig 1. zener diode in forward bias

5
FORWARD BIAS CHARACTERSTICS
IF(mA)

VF(V)

Cutin voltage
Fig2. Forward bias charactersticas of zener diode

6
FORWARD BIAS CHARACTERSTICS

Characteristics same as pn diode.

Not operated in forward bias.

7
REVERSE BIAS CHARACTERSTICS

Anode cathode

V
Fig 3. Zener diode in Reverse bias

8
REVERSE BIAS CHARACTERSTICS
ZenerBreakdown

VR(V)

Vz

Reverse Bias

IR (uA)
Fig 4. Reverse Bias characterstics of zener diode

9
REVERSE BIAS CHARACTERSTICS

Always operated in reverse bias.

Reverse voltage at which current increases suddenly and sharply
known as Zener break down voltage.
Zener break down occurs lower voltages than avalanche break down voltage.
After break down the reverse voltage VZ remains constant.

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VI CHARACTERISTICS

Fig 5. VI characteristics of Zener diode

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APPLICATIONS OF ZENER DIODE

Used as voltage regulator.

Also used in clipper circuits

12
Equivalent circuit of Zener diode

13
PN Junction Breakdown

•Electrical break down can occur due to two

different phenomena. Those two
phenomena are
1) Zener breakdown and 2) Avalanche
breakdown

14
15
ZENER BREAK DOWN

• Break down in Zener Diode.

• In heavily doped diode field intensity is more at

junction.

• Applied reverse voltage setup strong electric field.

• Thin depletion region in zener diode.

16
 ZENER BREAK DOWN MECHANISM

Depletion Region

P N

- - - - + + + + +
-
- - - + + + + +
+
- - -
+ +
- - - - + +

Fig 1. Zener Break down Mechanism animated

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 ZENER BREAK DOWN MECHANISM

Depletion Region

P N

- - - - + + + + +
-
- - - + + + + +
+
- - -
+ +
- - - - + +

Fig 2. Zener Break down mechanism

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ZENER BREAKDOWN

• Applied field enough to break covalent bonds in the

depletion region.

• Extremely large number of electrons and holes results.

• Produces large reverse current.

• Known as Zener Current IZ.

19
ZENER BREAK DOWN

• This is known as “Zener Break down”.

• This effect is called “Ionization by an Electric field”.

20
AVALANCHE BREAK DOWN

• Break down in PN Diode.

• In lightly doped diode field intensity is not strong to

produce zener break down.

• Depletion region width is large in reverse bias.

21
AVALANCHE BREAKDOWN MECHANISM

Depletion Region

P N

- - - + + + +
-
- - - + + + + +
+
- - -
- + +
- - - + +

Fig 3. Avalanche break down Avalanche

Incident Minority mechanism animated of charge
carriers carriers 22
AVALANCHE BREAKDOWN MECHANISM

Depletion Region

P N

- - - + + + +
-
- - - + + + + +
+
- - -
- + +
- - - + +

Fig 4. Avalanche Break Avalanche

Incident Minority down mechanism. of charge
carriers carriers 23
AVALANCHE BREAK DOWN

• Velocity of minority carriers increases with reverse bias.

• Minority carriers travels with great velocity and collides

with ions in depletion region.

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AVALANCHE BREAK DOWN

• Many covalent bonds breaks and generates more charge

carriers.

• Generated charge carriers again collides with covalent bonds

and again generates the carriers

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AVALANCHE BREAK DOWN

• Chain reaction established.

• Creates large current..

• This effect is known as “Ionization by Collision”.

• Damages the junction permanently.

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Differences between Zener and Avalanche break
downs.
1. Occurs in heavily doped 1. Occurs in lightly doped
diodes. diodes.

2. Ionization takes place by 2. Ionization takes place by

electric field. collisions.

3. Occurs even with less than 3. Occurs at higher voltages.

5V.
4. After breakdown
4. After the breakdown voltage across the diode is not
voltage across the zener constant.
diode is constant.

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