1.4 - Different Types of Diodes and Their Applications

4/11/2017 DifferentTypesofDiodesandtheirApplications
Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

ELECTRONICS HUB
P R OJ E C T S | T U TO R I A L S | C O U R S E S
HOME PROJECTS MINI PROJECTS FREE CIRCUITS TUTORIALS SYMBOLS DIY
PROJECT KITS COURSES CONTACT US
HOME DIODES TYPES OF DIODES
Types of Diodes
JANUARY 27, 2015 BY ADMINISTRATOR 7 COMMENTS
Contents [hide]
1 Introduction
1.1 1. Small Signal Diode
1.2 2. Large Signal Diode
1.3 3. Zener Diode
1.4 4.Light Emitting Diode (LED)
1.5 5. Constant Current Diodes
1.6 6. Schottky Diode
1.7 7. Shockley Diode
1.7.1 Shockley Diode Applications
1.8 8. Step Recovery Diodes
1.9 Tunnel Diode
1.9.1 Tunnel Diode Applications
1.10 10. Varactor Diode
1.10.1 Varactor Diode Applications
1.11 11. Laser Diode
1.11.1 Laser Diode Types:
1.12 12. Transient Voltage Suppression Diode
1.13 13. Gold Doped Diodes
1.14 14. Super Barrier Diodes
1.15 15. Peltier Diode
1.16 16. Crystal Diode
http://www.electronicshub.org/typesofdiodes/

1/23
1.16.1 Crystal DiodeElectronics

1.17 17. Avalanche Diode
Applications
Project Kits For Students ClickHere

1.17.1 Avalanche Diode Uses
1.18 18. Silicon Controlled Recti er
1.18.1 Modes of Operation:
1.19 19. Vacuum Diodes
1.20 20. PIN Diode
1.20.1 PIN Diode Applications:
1.21 21. Point Contact Devices
1.22 22. Gunn Diode
2 Related Articles
TILEDDriver
Portfolio
TILightingPortfolioHelpsMeetYour
Efficiency&ReliabilityGoals
ti.com/LED
Introduction
Diodes are electronic components functions as a one-way valve it means it allow current to
ow in one direction. These diodes are manufactured by the semiconductor materials
germanium, silicon and selenium. Operation of diode can be classi ed in two ways, if it allows
the current then it is forward biased otherwise it is reverse biased.
For silicon diodes the forward voltage is 0.7v and for germanium it is 0.3v. In silicon diode the
dark band indicates the cathode terminal and the other terminal is anode. Generally diodes
are used as reverse polarity protector and transient protector. There are many types of diodes
and some of these are listed as follows.

2/23

Mauritius Tour with TUI
6 Nights Stay in Silver Beach, Full Day tour to South& North

Island, Ile Aux Cerfs & More
1. Small Signal Diode

It is a small device with disproportional characteristics and whose applications are mainly
involved at high frequency and very low currents devices such as radios and televisions etc. To
protect the diode from contamination it is enveloped with a glass so it is also named as Glass
Passivated Diode which is extensively used as 1N4148.
The appearance of signal diode is very small when compared with the power diode. To
indicate the cathode terminal one edge is marked with black or red in color. For the
applications at high frequencies the performance of the small signal diode is very e ective.
With respect to the functional frequencies of the signal diode the carrying capacity of the
current and power are very low which are maximum nearly at 150mA and 500mW.
The signal diode is a silicon doped semiconductor diode or a germanium doped diode but
depending up on the doping material the characteristics of the diode varies. In signal diode
the characteristics of the silicon doped diode is approximately opposite to the germanium
doped diode.
The silicon signal diode has high voltage drop at the coupling about 0.6 to 0.7 volts so, it has
very high resistance but low forward resistance. On other hand germanium signal diode has
low resistance due to low voltage drop nearly at 0.2 to 0.3 volts and high forward resistance.
Due to small signal the functional point is not disrupted in small signal diode.
2. Large Signal Diode

These diodes have large PN junction layer. Thus the transformation of AC to DC voltages is
unbounded. This also increases the current forward capacity and reverse blocking voltage.
These large signals will disrupt the functional point also. Due to this it is not suitable for high
frequency applications.

3/23
The main applications of Electronics

these diodes are in
Project battery
Kits charging ClickHere
For Students devices like inverters. In these

diodes the range of forward resistance is in Ohms and the reverse blocking resistance is in
mega Ohms. Since it has high current and voltage performance these can be used in electrical
devices which are used to suppress high peak voltages.
3. Zener Diode
It is a passive element works under the principle of zener breakdown. First produced by
Clarence zener in 1934.It is similar to normal diode in forward direction, it also allows current in
reverse direction when the applied voltage reaches the breakdown voltage. It is designed to
prevent the other semiconductor devices from momentary voltage pulses. It acts as voltage
regulator.
4.Light Emitting Diode (LED)

These diodes convert the electrical energy in to light energy. First production started in 1968. It
undergoes electroluminescence process in which holes and electrons are recombined to
produce energy in the form of light in forward bias condition.
Earlier they used in inductor lamps but now in recent applications they are using in
environmental and task handling. Mostly used in applications like aviation lighting, tra c
signals, camera ashes.

4/23

5. Constant Current Diodes

It is also known as current-regulating diode or constant current diode or current-limiting diode
or diode-connected transistor. The function of the diode is regulating the voltage at a
particular current.
It functions as a two terminal current limiter. In this JFET acts as current limiter to achieve high
output impedance. The constant current diode symbol is shown below.
6. Schottky Diode
In this type of diode the junction is formed by contacting the semiconductor material with
metal. Due to this the forward voltage drop is decreased to min. The semiconductor material is
N-type silicon which acts as an anode and the metal acts as a cathode whose materials are
chromium, platinum, tungsten etc.
Due to the metal junction these diodes have high current conducting capability thus the
switching time reduces. So, Schottky has greater use in switching applications. Mainly because
of the metal- semiconductor junction the voltage drop is low which in turn increase the diode
performance and reduces power loss. So, these are used in high frequency recti er
applications. The symbol of Schottky diode is as shown below.

5/23

7. Shockley Diode
It was the invention of rst semiconductor devices it has four layers. It is also called as
PNPNdiode. It is equal to a thyristor without a gate terminal which means the gate terminal is
disconnected. As there is no trigger inputs the only way the diode can conduct is by providing
forward voltage.
It stays on ones it turned ON and stays o ones it turned OFF. The diode has two operating
states conducting and non-conducting. In non-conducting state the diode conducts with less
voltage.
The symbol of the Shockley diode is as follows:

6/23

Shockley Diode Applications
Trigger switches for SCR.

Acts as relaxation oscillator.
8. Step Recovery Diodes

It is also called as snap-o diode or charge-storage diode. These are the special type of
diodes which stores the charge from positive pulse and uses in the negative pulse of the
sinusoidal signals. The rise time of the current pulse is equal to the snap time. Due to this
phenomenon it has speed recovery pulses.
The applications of these diodes are in higher order multipliers and in pulse shaper circuits.
The cut-o frequency of these diodes is very high which are nearly at Giga hertz order.
As multiplier this diode has the cut-o frequency range of 200 to 300 GHz. In the operations
which are performing at 10 GHz range these diodes plays a vital role. The e ciency is high for
lower order multipliers. The symbol for this diode is as shown below.
Tunnel Diode
It is used as high speed switch, of order nano-seconds. Due to tunneling e ect it has very fast
operation in microwave frequency region. It is a two terminal device in which concentration of
dopants is too high.
The transient response is being limited by junction capacitance plus stray wiring capacitance.
Mostly used in microwave oscillators and ampli ers. It acts as most negative conductance
device. Tunnel diodes can be tuned in both mechanically and electrically. The symbol of
tunnel diode is as shown below.

7/23

Tunnel Diode Applications
1. Oscillatory circuits.
2. Microwave circuits.
3. Resistant to nuclear radiation.
10. Varactor Diode

These are also known as Varicap diodes. It acts like the variable capacitor. Operations are
performed mainly at reverse bias state only. These diodes are very famous due to its capability
of changing the capacitance ranges within the circuit in the presence of constant voltage ow.
They can able to vary capacitance up to high values. In varactor diode by changing the reverse
bias voltage we can decrease or increase the depletion layer. These diodes have many
applications as voltage controlled oscillator for cell phones, satellite pre- lters etc. The
symbol of varactor diode is given below.
Varactor Diode Applications
1. Voltage-controlled capacitors.
2. Voltage-controlled oscillators.
3. Parametric ampli ers.
4. Frequency multipliers.
5. FM transmitters and Phase locked loops in radio, television sets and cellular telephone.
11. Laser Diode

Similar to LED in which active region is formed by p-n junction. Electrically laser diode is p-i-n
diode in which the active region is in intrinsic region. Used in ber optic communications,
barcodereaders, laser pointers, CD/DVD/Blu-ray reading and recording, Laser printing.

8/23
Laser Diode Types: Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

1. Double Heterostructure Laser: Free electrons and holes available simultaneously in the
region.
2. Quantum Well Lasers: lasers having more than one quantum well are called multi
quantum well lasers.
3. Quantum Cascade Lasers: These are heterojunction lasers which enables laser action at
relatively long wavelengths.
4. Separate Con nement Heterostructure Lasers: To compensate the thin layer problem
in quantum lasers we go for separate con nement heterostructure lasers.
5. Distributed Bragg Re ector Lasers: It can be edge emitting lasers or VCSELS.
The symbol of the Laser Diode is as shown:
12. Transient Voltage Suppression Diode

In semiconductor devices due to the sudden change in the state voltage transients will occur.
They will damage the device output response. To overcome this problem voltage suppression
diode diodes are used. The operation of voltage suppression diode is similar to Zener diode
operation.
The operation of these diodes is normal as p-n junction diodes but at the time of transient
voltage its operation changes. In normal condition the impedance of the diode is high. When
any transient voltage occurs in the circuit the diode enters in to the avalanche breakdown
region in which the low impedance is provided.
It is spontaneously very fast because the avalanche breakdown duration ranges in Pico
seconds. Transient voltage suppression diode will clamp the voltage to the xed levels, mostly
its clamping voltage is in minimum range.

9/23
These are having applications in theProject

Electronics telecommunication
Kits For Studentselds,ClickHere
medical, microprocessors and

signal processing. It responds to over voltages faster than varistors or gas discharge tubes.
The symbol for Transient voltage suppression diode is as shown below.
The diode is characterized by
Leakage current
Maximum reverse stand-o voltage
Breakdown voltage
Clamping voltage
Parasitic capacitience
Parasitic inductance
Amount of energy it can absorb
13. Gold Doped Diodes

In these diodes gold is used as a dopant. These diodes are faster than other diodes. In these
diodes the leakage current in reverse bias condition also less. Even at the higher voltage drop
it allows the diode to operate in signal frequencies. In these diodes gold helps for the faster
recombination of minority carriers.
14. Super Barrier Diodes

It is a recti er diode having low forward voltage drop as schottky diode with surge handling
capability and low reverse leakage current as p-n junction diode. It was designed for high
power, fast switching and low-loss applications. Super barrier recti ers are the next generation
recti ers with low forward voltage than schottky diode.
15. Peltier Diode

10/23
In this type of diode, at the two material

Electronics junction
Project Kits ForofStudents
a semiconductor it generates a heat which
ClickHere

ows from one terminal to another terminal. This ow is done in only single direction that is as
equal to the direction of current ow.
This heat is produced due to electric charge produced by the recombination of minority
charge carriers. This is mainly used in cooling and heating applications. This type of diodes
used as sensor and heat engine for thermo electric cooling.
16. Crystal Diode

This is also known as Cats whisker which is a type of point contact diode. Its operation
depends on the pressure of contact between semiconductor crystal and point.
In this a metal wire is present which is pressed against the semiconductor crystal. In this the
semiconductor crystal acts as cathode and metal wire acts as anode. These diodes are
obsolete in nature. Mainly used in microwave receivers and detectors.
Crystal Diode Applications
1. Crystal diode recti er

2. Crystal diode detector
3. Crystal radio receiver
17. Avalanche Diode

This is passive element works under principle of avalanche breakdown. It works in reverse bias
condition. It results large currents due to the ionisation produced by p-n junction during
reverse bias condition.
These diodes are specially designed to undergo breakdown at speci c reverse voltage to
prevent the damage. The symbol of the avalanche diode is as shown below:
Avalanche Diode Uses
1. RF Noise Generation: It acts as source of RF for antenna analyzer bridges and also as
white noise generators. Used in radio equipments and also in hardware random number
generators.
2. Microwave Frequency Generation: In this the diode acts as negative resistance device.

11/23
3. Single Photon Avalanche Detector:

Electronics Project These
Kits Forare high gainClickHere
Students photon detectors used in light

level applications.
18. Silicon Controlled Recti er

It consists of three terminals they are anode, cathode and a gate. It is nearly equal to the
Shockley diode. As its name indicates it is mainly used for the control purpose when small
voltages are applied in the circuit. The symbol of the Silicon Controlled Recti er is as shown
below:
Modes of Operation:
1. Forward blocking mode (o state): In this j1 and j3 forward biased and j2 is reverse biased.
It o ers high resistance below breakover voltage and hence it is said to be o state.
2. Forward conduction mode (on state): By increasing the voltage at anode and cathode or
by applying positive pulse at the gate we can turn ON. To turn o the only way is to
decrease the current owing through it.
3. Reverse blocking mode (o state): SCR blocking the reverse voltage is named as
asymmetrical SCR. Mostly used in current source inverters.
19. Vacuum Diodes

Vacuum diodes consist of two electrodes which will acts as an anode and the cathode.
Cathode is made up of tungsten which emits the electrons in the direction of anode. Always
electron ow will be from cathode to anode only. So, it acts like a switch.
If the cathode is coated with oxide material then the electrons emission capability is high.
Anode is a bit long in size and in some cases their surface is rough to reduce the temperatures

12/23
developing in the diode. The diode will

Electronics conduct
Project inStudents
Kits For only one case that is when the anode is
ClickHere

positive regarding to cathode terminal. The symbol is as shown in gure:
20. PIN Diode

The improved version of the normal P-N junction diode gives the PIN diode. In PIN diode
doping is not necessary. The intrinsic material means the material which has no charge carriers
is inserted between the P and N regions which increase the area of depletion layer.
When we apply forward bias voltage the holes and electrons will pushed into the intrinsic
layer. At some point due to this high injection level the electric eld will conduct through the
intrinsic material also. This eld made the carriers to ow from two regions. The symbol of PIN
diode is as shown below:
PIN Diode Applications:
1. Rf Switches: Pin diode is used for both signal and component selection. For example pin
diodes acts as range-switch inductors in low phase noise oscillators.
2. Attenuators: it is used as bridge and shunt resistance in bridge-T attenuator.
3. Photo Detectors: it detects x-ray and gamma ray photons.
21. Point Contact Devices

A gold or tungsten wire is used to act as the point contact to produce a PN junction region by
passing a high electric current through it. A small region of PN junction is produced around the
edge of the wire which is connected to the metal plate which is as shown in the gure.

13/23

In forward direction its operation is quite similar but in reverse bias condition the wire acts like
an insulator. Since this insulator is between the plates the diode acts as a capacitor. In general
the capacitor blocks the DC currents when the AC currents are owing in the circuit at high
frequencies. So, these are used to detect the high frequency signals.
22. Gunn Diode

Gunn diode is fabricated with n-type semiconductor material only. The depletion region of two
N-type materials is very thin. When voltage increases in the circuit the current also increases.
After certain level of voltage the current will exponentially decrease thus this exhibits the
negative di erential resistance.
It has two electrodes with Gallium Arsenide and Indium Phosphide due to these it has
negative di erential resistance. It is also termed as transferred electron device. It produces
micro wave RF signals so it is mainly used in Microwave RF devices. It can also use as an
ampli er. The symbol of Gunn diode is shown below:
PREVIOUS DIODE CHARACTERISTICS
NEXT SIGNAL DIODE TUTORIAL
Related Articles

14/23
Related ArticlesElectronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

Introduction to Diode Applications Semiconductor Diodes Signal Diode Tutorial

Transistors
PN Junction Tutorial Power Diodes and Characteristics and Signal Diode Arrays
Recti ers Working of P-N Junction
Diode
FILED UNDER: DIODES
Comments
akash says

15/23
NOVEMBER 24, 2015 AT 9:45 AM

Zener diode nai hai isme
Reply
naresh says
DECEMBER 31, 2015 AT 2:24 AM
thank q for best information
Reply
Sdk says
FEBRUARY 9, 2016 AT 11:54 AM
Thank u frnd
Reply
cutie says
FEBRUARY 16, 2016 AT 9:29 PM
Thank u for this useful information
Reply
Chalew Cheru says

JUNE 30, 2016 AT 6:46 AM
Thank you very much. you help several people specially students
Reply

16/23

Shaik mubeena says
JULY 19, 2016 AT 9:59 PM
Thank u
Reply
khan says
SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 AT 11:55 AM
realy , very informable..
Reply
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required elds are marked *
Comment
Name *
Email *
Website

17/23
I'm not a robot


reCAPTCHA
Privacy - Terms
POST COMMENT
Search this website
COMPLETE STEP BY STEP GUIDE

18/23

adsbymedia.net
HighPowerLaserDiodes
PulsedLaserDiodes
MicrowaveOvenDiode
LaserDiodeDrivers
MITSUBISHILASERDIODES
LaserDiodeManufacturers
DiodeForSale
ElectronicsHub
YouTube 14K
ElectronicsHub
FollowOn

19/23

Electronics Hub
Follow +1
+ 76,267
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE PROJECT CIRCUITS
Enter your email address:
SUBSCRIBE
Delivered by FeedBurner
ElectronicsHub
660,284likes
LikePage SignUp
Bethefirstofyourfriendstolikethis

20/23

a 1 HighPowerLaserDiodes

a 2 PulsedLaserDiodes
a 3 MicrowaveOvenDiode
a 4 LaserDiodeDrivers
a 5 MITSUBISHILASERDIODES
a 6 LaserDiodeManufacturers
a 7 DiodeforSale
a 8 LaserDiodeArray
a 9 DiodeTutorial
a 10 AutomotiveDiodes
a 11 StepRecoveryDiode
a 12 DiodeLaserHairRemoval
a 13 LaserLightPen
PROJECTS BY CATEGORY
Arduino Projects (200+)

Electronics Projects (250+)
Mini Project Circuits (160+)
Mini Project Ideas (150+)
ECE Projects (150+)
EEE Projects (150+)
8051 Projects (110+)
Raspberry Pi Projects (101+)
Electrical Project Ideas (100+)
Embedded Projects (100+)
Latest Electronics Ideas (100+)
Microcontroller Mini Projects (100+)
Robotics Projects (100+)
VLSI Projects (100+)

21/23
Solar
Electronics Project Kits For Students Projects (100+)
ClickHere
IOT Projects (100+)

Communication Projects (70+)
LED Projects (70+)
Power Electronics Projects (60+)
RFID Projects (60+)
Home Automation Projects (50+)
Matlab Projects (50+)
EIE Projects (50+)
Wireless Projects (50+)
LabView Projects (45+)
Zigbee Projects (45+)
GSM Projects (40+)
555 Timer Circuits (40+)
Sensor Projects (40+)
ARM Projects (60+)
DTMF Projects (30+)
PIC Projects (30+)
Electrical Mini Projects (25)
GENERAL PROJECTS PROJECTS
Tutorials Electrical Mini projects
Symbols Electronics Microcontroller

Courses Embedded Aurdino
Calculator Power Solar
Contact Robotics Free circuits

ARM Home Automation
IOT
TUTORIALS
Capcitors
Resitors
Filters
Diodes
Transistors
TUTORIALS FOLLOW US
Ampli ers Facebook

IO Devices Youtube

22/23
Thyristors Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere Google Plus

DC Circuits Twitter
Nummber System
Return to top of page

Copyright 2017 Electronicshub.org
http://www.electronicshub.org/typesofdiodes/ 23/23

1.4 - Different Types of Diodes and Their Applications

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

1.4 - Different Types of Diodes and Their Applications

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

4/11/2017 DifferentTypesofDiodesandtheirApplications

Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

HOME PROJECTS MINI PROJECTS FREE CIRCUITS TUTORIALS SYMBOLS DIY

PROJECT KITS COURSES CONTACT US

HOME DIODES TYPES OF DIODES

1.16.1 Crystal DiodeElectronics

Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

Mauritius Tour with TUI

6 Nights Stay in Silver Beach, Full Day tour to South& North

1. Small Signal Diode

2. Large Signal Diode

The main applications of Electronics

4.Light Emitting Diode (LED)

Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

5. Constant Current Diodes

Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

The symbol of the Shockley diode is as follows:

Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

Shockley Diode Applications

Trigger switches for SCR.

8. Step Recovery Diodes

Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

Tunnel Diode Applications

10. Varactor Diode

Varactor Diode Applications

11. Laser Diode

Laser Diode Types: Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

The symbol of the Laser Diode is as shown:

12. Transient Voltage Suppression Diode

These are having applications in theProject

The symbol for Transient voltage suppression diode is as shown below.

The diode is characterized by

13. Gold Doped Diodes

14. Super Barrier Diodes

15. Peltier Diode

In this type of diode, at the two material

16. Crystal Diode

Crystal Diode Applications

1. Crystal diode recti er

17. Avalanche Diode

Avalanche Diode Uses

3. Single Photon Avalanche Detector:

18. Silicon Controlled Recti er

19. Vacuum Diodes

developing in the diode. The diode will

20. PIN Diode

PIN Diode Applications:

21. Point Contact Devices

Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

22. Gunn Diode

PREVIOUS DIODE CHARACTERISTICS

NEXT SIGNAL DIODE TUTORIAL

Related ArticlesElectronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

Introduction to Diode Applications Semiconductor Diodes Signal Diode Tutorial

FILED UNDER: DIODES

thank q for best information

Thank u for this useful information

Chalew Cheru says

Electronics Project Kits For Students ClickHere

realy , very informable..

I'm not a robot

Search this website

COMPLETE STEP BY STEP GUIDE