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Ideality Factor
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Effect of Light Intensity Chapter 4 Quiz
The ideality factor of a diode is a measure of how closely the diode follows the ideal diode equation. The
derivation of the simple diode equation uses certain assumption about the cell. In practice, there are second order
effects so that the diode does not follow the simple diode equation and the ideality factor provides a way of
describing them.

Recombination mechanisms
The ideal diode equation assumes that all the recombination occurs via band to band or recombination via traps
in the bulk areas from the device (i.e. not in the junction). Using that assumption the derivation produces the ideal
diode equation below and the ideality factor, n, is equal to one.
However recombination does occur in other ways and in other areas
of the device. These recombinations produce ideality factors that
deviate from the ideal. Deriving the ideal diode equation by
considering the number of carriers the need to come together during
the process produces the results in the table below.
Ideality
factor

Recombination Type

Description

SRH, band to band (low level

injection)

Recombination limited by minority carrier.

SRH, band to band (high level

injection)

Recombination limited by both carrier types.

Auger

2/3

Two majority and one minority carriers required for

recombination.

Depletion region (junction)

two carriers limit recombination.

Effect of Light Intensity Chapter 4 Quiz