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Diode
A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that conducts current primarily in one direction (asymmetric conductance); it has
low (ideally zero) resistance in one direction, and high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other. A diode vacuum tube or
thermionic diode is a vacuum tube with two electrodes, a heated cathode and a plate, in which electrons can flow in only one
direction, from cathode to plate. A semiconductor diode, the most common type today, is a crystalline piece of semiconductor
material with a p–n junction connected to two electrical terminals.[5] Semiconductor diodes were the first semiconductor electronic
devices. The discovery of asymmetric electrical conduction across the contact between a crystalline mineral and a metal was made
by German physicist Ferdinand Braun in 1874. Today, most diodes are made of silicon, but other materials such as gallium
arsenide and germanium are used.[6]

Close-up view of a silicon diode.

The anode is at the right side; the
Contents cathode is at the left side (where it is
marked with a black band). The
Main functions square silicon crystal can be seen
between the two leads.
History
Vacuum tube diodes
Solid-state diodes
Etymology
Rectifiers

Vacuum tube diodes

Semiconductor diodes
Point-contact diodes
Junction diodes
p–n junction diode
Schottky diode
Current–voltage characteristic
Reverse bias
Forward bias
Shockley diode equation
Small-signal behavior
Reverse-recovery effect

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Types of semiconductor diode

Graphic symbols
Numbering and coding schemes
EIA/JEDEC
JIS
Pro Electron

Related devices
Applications
Radio demodulation
Power conversion
Over-voltage protection
Logic gates
Ionizing radiation detectors
Temperature measurements
Current steering
Waveform clipper
Clamper
Abbreviations
See also
References
External links

Main functions
The most common function of a diode is to allow an electric current to pass in one direction (called the diode's forward direction),
while blocking it in the opposite direction (the reverse direction). As such, the diode can be viewed as an electronic version of a
Various semiconductor diodes.
check valve. This unidirectional behavior is called rectification, and is used to convert alternating current (ac) to direct current (dc).
Bottom: A bridge rectifier. In most
Forms of rectifiers, diodes can be used for such tasks as extracting modulation from radio signals in radio receivers. diodes, a white or black painted
band identifies the cathode into
However, diodes can have more complicated behavior than this simple on–off action, because of their nonlinear current-voltage
which electrons will flow when the
characteristics.[7] Semiconductor diodes begin conducting electricity only if a certain threshold voltage or cut-in voltage is present diode is conducting. Electron flow is
in the forward direction (a state in which the diode is said to be forward-biased). The voltage drop across a forward-biased diode the reverse of conventional current
varies only a little with the current, and is a function of temperature; this effect can be used as a temperature sensor or as a voltage flow.[1][2][3][4]
reference. Also, diodes' high resistance to current flowing in the reverse direction suddenly drops to a low resistance when the

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reverse voltage across the diode reaches a value called the breakdown voltage.

A semiconductor diode's current–voltage characteristic can be tailored by selecting the semiconductor materials and the doping
impurities introduced into the materials during manufacture.[7] These techniques are used to create special-purpose diodes that
perform many different functions.[7] For example, diodes are used to regulate voltage (Zener diodes), to protect circuits from high
voltage surges (avalanche diodes), to electronically tune radio and TV receivers (varactor diodes), to generate radio-frequency
oscillations (tunnel diodes, Gunn diodes, IMPATT diodes), and to produce light (light-emitting diodes). Tunnel, Gunn and
IMPATT diodes exhibit negative resistance, which is useful in microwave and switching circuits.

Diodes, both vacuum and semiconductor, can be used as shot-noise generators.

History
Thermionic (vacuum-tube) diodes and solid-state (semiconductor) diodes were developed separately, at approximately the same
time, in the early 1900s, as radio receiver detectors.[8] Until the 1950s, vacuum diodes were used more frequently in radios because
the early point-contact semiconductor diodes were less stable. In addition, most receiving sets had vacuum tubes for amplification Structure of a vacuum tube diode.
that could easily have the thermionic diodes included in the tube (for example the 12SQ7 double diode triode), and vacuum-tube The filament itself may be the
rectifiers and gas-filled rectifiers were capable of handling some high-voltage/high-current rectification tasks better than the cathode, or more commonly (as
semiconductor diodes (such as selenium rectifiers) that were available at that time. shown here) used to heat a
separate metal tube which serves
as the cathode.
Vacuum tube diodes
In 1873, Frederick Guthrie observed that a grounded, white hot metal ball brought in close proximity to an electroscope would
discharge a positively charged electroscope, but not a negatively charged electroscope.[9][10]

In 1880, Thomas Edison observed unidirectional current between heated and unheated elements in a bulb, later called Edison effect, and was granted a patent on application
of the phenomenon for use in a dc voltmeter.[11][12]

About 20 years later, John Ambrose Fleming (scientific adviser to the Marconi Company and former Edison employee) realized that the Edison effect could be used as a radio
detector. Fleming patented the first true thermionic diode, the Fleming valve, in Britain on November 16, 1904[13] (followed by U.S. Patent 803,684 (https://www.google.co
m/patents/US803684) in November 1905).

Throughout the vacuum tube era, valve diodes were used in almost all electronics such as radios, televisions, sound systems and instrumentation. They slowly lost market
share beginning in the late 1940s due to selenium rectifier technology and then to semiconductor diodes during the 1960s. Today they are still used in a few high power
applications where their ability to withstand transient voltages and their robustness gives them an advantage over semiconductor devices, and in musical instrument and
audiophile applications.
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Solid-state diodes
In 1874, German scientist Karl Ferdinand Braun discovered the "unilateral conduction" across a contact between a metal and a mineral.[14][15] Indian scientist Jagadish
Chandra Bose was the first to use a crystal for detecting radio waves in 1894.[16] The crystal detector was developed into a practical device for wireless telegraphy by Greenleaf
Whittier Pickard, who invented a silicon crystal detector in 1903 and received a patent for it on November 20, 1906.[17] Other experimenters tried a variety of other minerals
as detectors. Semiconductor principles were unknown to the developers of these early rectifiers. During the 1930s understanding of physics advanced and in the mid 1930s
researchers at Bell Telephone Laboratories recognized the potential of the crystal detector for application in microwave technology.[18] Researchers at Bell Labs, Western
Electric, MIT, Purdue and in the UK intensively developed point-contact diodes (crystal rectifiers or crystal diodes) during World War II for application in radar.[18] After
World War II, AT&T used these in their microwave towers that criss-crossed the United States, and many radar sets use them even in the 21st century. In 1946, Sylvania began
offering the 1N34 crystal diode.[19][20][21] During the early 1950s, junction diodes were developed.

Etymology
At the time of their invention, asymmetrical conduction devices were known as rectifiers. In 1919, the year tetrodes were invented, William Henry Eccles coined the term diode
from the Greek roots di (from δί), meaning 'two', and ode (from ὁδός), meaning 'path'. The word diode, however, as well as triode, tetrode, pentode, hexode, were already in
use as terms of multiplex telegraphy.[22]

Rectifiers
Although all diodes rectify, the term rectifier is usually applied to diodes intended for power supply application in order to differentiate them from diodes intended for small
signal circuits.

Vacuum tube diodes

A thermionic diode is a thermionic-valve device consisting of a sealed, evacuated glass or metal envelope containing two electrodes: a cathode and a plate. The cathode is
either indirectly heated or directly heated. If indirect heating is employed, a heater is included in the envelope.

In operation, the cathode is heated to red heat (800–1000 °C). A directly heated cathode is made of tungsten wire and is heated by current passed through it from an external
voltage source. An indirectly heated cathode is heated by infrared radiation from a nearby heater that is formed of Nichrome wire and supplied with current provided by an
external voltage source.

The operating temperature of the cathode causes it to release electrons into the vacuum, a process called thermionic emission. The cathode is coated with oxides of alkaline
earth metals, such as barium and strontium oxides. These have a low work function, meaning that they more readily emit electrons than would the uncoated cathode.

The plate, not being heated, does not emit electrons; but is able to absorb them.

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The alternating voltage to be rectified is applied between the cathode and the plate. When the plate voltage is positive with respect to the cathode, the
plate electrostatically attracts the electrons from the cathode, so a current of electrons flows through the tube from cathode to plate. When the plate
voltage is negative with respect to the cathode, no electrons are emitted by the plate, so no current can pass from the plate to the cathode.

Semiconductor diodes
The symbol for
Point-contact diodes an indirectly
heated vacuum
Point-contact diodes were developed starting in the 1930s, out of the early crystal detector technology, and are now generally used in the 3 to 30
tube diode. From
gigahertz range.[18][23][24][25] Point-contact diodes use a small diameter metal wire in contact with a semiconductor crystal, and are of either non- top to bottom, the
welded contact type or welded contact type. Non-welded contact construction utilizes the Schottky barrier principle. The metal side is the pointed end element names
of a small diameter wire that is in contact with the semiconductor crystal.[26] In the welded contact type, a small P region is formed in the otherwise N are: plate,
type crystal around the metal point during manufacture by momentarily passing a relatively large current through the device.[27][28] Point contact cathode, and
heater.
diodes generally exhibit lower capacitance, higher forward resistance and greater reverse leakage than junction diodes.

Junction diodes

p–n junction diode

A p–n junction diode is made of a crystal of semiconductor, usually silicon, but germanium and gallium arsenide are also used. Impurities are added to it to create a region on
one side that contains negative charge carriers (electrons), called an n-type semiconductor, and a region on the other side that contains positive charge carriers (holes), called
a p-type semiconductor. When the n-type and p-type materials are attached together, a momentary flow of electrons occur from the n to the p side resulting in a third region
between the two where no charge carriers are present. This region is called the depletion region because there are no charge carriers (neither electrons nor holes) in it. The
diode's terminals are attached to the n-type and p-type regions. The boundary between these two regions, called a p–n junction, is where the action of the diode takes place.
When a sufficiently higher electrical potential is applied to the P side (the anode) than to the N side (the cathode), it allows electrons to flow through the depletion region from
the N-type side to the P-type side. The junction does not allow the flow of electrons in the opposite direction when the potential is applied in reverse, creating, in a sense, an
electrical check valve.

Schottky diode
Another type of junction diode, the Schottky diode, is formed from a metal–semiconductor junction rather than a p–n junction, which reduces capacitance and increases
switching speed.[29][30]

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Current–voltage characteristic
A semiconductor diode's behavior in a circuit is given by its current–voltage characteristic, or I–V graph (see graph below). The shape of the curve is
determined by the transport of charge carriers through the so-called depletion layer or depletion region that exists at the p–n junction between
differing semiconductors. When a p–n junction is first created, conduction-band (mobile) electrons from the N-doped region diffuse into the P-doped
region where there is a large population of holes (vacant places for electrons) with which the electrons "recombine". When a mobile electron recombines
with a hole, both hole and electron vanish, leaving behind an immobile positively charged donor (dopant) on the N side and negatively charged acceptor
(dopant) on the P side. The region around the p–n junction becomes depleted of charge carriers and thus behaves as an insulator.

However, the width of the depletion region (called the depletion width) cannot grow without limit. For each electron–hole pair recombination made, a
positively charged dopant ion is left behind in the N-doped region, and a negatively charged dopant ion is created in the P-doped region. As
recombination proceeds and more ions are created, an increasing electric field develops through the depletion zone that acts to slow and then finally
stop recombination. At this point, there is a "built-in" potential across the depletion zone.
Point contact
diode (crystal
rectifier or
Reverse bias
crystal diode),
If an external voltage is placed across the diode with the same polarity as the built-in potential, the depletion zone continues to act as an insulator, type 1N23C.
preventing any significant electric current flow (unless electron–hole pairs are actively being created in the junction by, for instance, light; see Grid one
photodiode). This is called the reverse bias phenomenon. quarter inch.

Forward bias
However, if the polarity of the external voltage opposes the built-in potential, recombination can once again proceed, resulting in a substantial electric current through the p–
n junction (i.e. substantial numbers of electrons and holes recombine at the junction). For silicon diodes, the built-in potential is approximately 0.7 V (0.3 V for germanium
and 0.2 V for Schottky). Thus, if an external voltage greater than and opposite to the built-in voltage is applied, a current will flow and the diode is said to be "turned on" as it
has been given an external forward bias. The diode is commonly said to have a forward "threshold" voltage, above which it conducts and below which conduction stops.
However, this is only an approximation as the forward characteristic is smooth (see I-V graph above).

A diode's I–V characteristic can be approximated by four regions of operation:

1. At very large reverse bias, beyond the peak inverse voltage or PIV, a process called reverse breakdown occurs that causes a large increase in current (i.e., a large
number of electrons and holes are created at, and move away from the p–n junction) that usually damages the device permanently. The avalanche diode is deliberately
designed for use in that manner. In the Zener diode, the concept of PIV is not applicable. A Zener diode contains a heavily doped p–n junction allowing electrons to tunnel
from the valence band of the p-type material to the conduction band of the n-type material, such that the reverse voltage is "clamped" to a known value (called the Zener
voltage), and avalanche does not occur. Both devices, however, do have a limit to the maximum current and power they can withstand in the clamped reverse-voltage
region. Also, following the end of forward conduction in any diode, there is reverse current for a short time. The device does not attain its full blocking capability until the
reverse current ceases.

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2. For a bias less than the PIV, the reverse current is very small. For a normal P–N rectifier diode,
the reverse current through the device in the micro-ampere (µA) range is very low. However,
this is temperature dependent, and at sufficiently high temperatures, a substantial amount of
reverse current can be observed (mA or more). There is also a tiny surface leakage current
caused by electrons simply going around the diode as though it were an imperfect insulator.
3. With a small forward bias, where only a small forward current is conducted, the current–voltage
curve is exponential in accordance with the ideal diode equation. There is a definite forward
voltage at which the diode starts to conduct significantly. This is called the knee voltage or cut-in
voltage and is equal to the barrier potential of the p-n junction. This is a feature of the
exponential curve, and appears sharper on a current scale more compressed than in the
diagram shown here.
4. At larger forward currents the current-voltage curve starts to be dominated by the ohmic
resistance of the bulk semiconductor. The curve is no longer exponential, it is asymptotic to a
straight line whose slope is the bulk resistance. This region is particularly important for power
diodes. The diode can be modeled as an ideal diode in series with a fixed resistor.
In a small silicon diode operating at its rated currents, the voltage drop is about 0.6 to 0.7 volts. The
value is different for other diode types—Schottky diodes can be rated as low as 0.2 V, germanium
diodes 0.25 to 0.3 V, and red or blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can have values of 1.4 V and 4.0 V
respectively.
I–V (current vs. voltage) characteristics of a p–n junction diode
At higher currents the forward voltage drop of the diode increases. A drop of 1 V to 1.5 V is typical at
full rated current for power diodes.

Shockley diode equation

The Shockley ideal diode equation or the diode law (named after the bipolar junction transistor co-inventor William Bradford Shockley) gives the I–V characteristic of an
ideal diode in either forward or reverse bias (or no bias). The following equation is called the Shockley ideal diode equation when n, the ideality factor, is set equal to 1 :

where

I is the diode current,

IS is the reverse bias saturation current (or scale current),
VD is the voltage across the diode,
VT is the thermal voltage, and

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n is the ideality factor, also known as the quality

factor or sometimes emission coefficient. The
ideality factor n typically varies from 1 to 2
(though can in some cases be higher), depending
on the fabrication process and semiconductor
material and is set equal to 1 for the case of an
"ideal" diode (thus the n is sometimes omitted).
The ideality factor was added to account for
imperfect junctions as observed in real
transistors. The factor mainly accounts for carrier
recombination as the charge carriers cross the
depletion region.

The thermal voltage VT is approximately 25.85 mV at 300 K, a

temperature close to "room temperature" commonly used in
device simulation software. At any temperature it is a known
constant defined by: A PN junction diode in forward bias mode, the depletion width decreases. Both p and n junctions are
doped at a 1e15/cm3 doping level, leading to built-in potential of ~0.59V. Observe the different Quasi
Fermi levels for conduction band and valence band in n and p regions (red curves).

where k is the Boltzmann constant, T is the absolute temperature of the p–n junction, and q is the magnitude of charge of an electron (the elementary charge).

The reverse saturation current, IS, is not constant for a given device, but varies with temperature; usually more significantly than VT, so that VD typically decreases as T
increases.

The Shockley ideal diode equation or the diode law is derived with the assumption that the only processes giving rise to the current in the diode are drift (due to electrical
field), diffusion, and thermal recombination–generation (R–G) (this equation is derived by setting n = 1 above). It also assumes that the R–G current in the depletion region is
insignificant. This means that the Shockley ideal diode equation doesn't account for the processes involved in reverse breakdown and photon-assisted R–G. Additionally, it
doesn't describe the "leveling off" of the I–V curve at high forward bias due to internal resistance. Introducing the ideality factor, n, accounts for recombination and generation
of carriers.

Under reverse bias voltages the exponential in the diode equation is negligible, and the current is a constant (negative) reverse current value of −IS. The reverse breakdown
region is not modeled by the Shockley diode equation.

For even rather small forward bias voltages the exponential is very large, since the thermal voltage is very small in comparison. The subtracted '1' in the diode equation is then
negligible and the forward diode current can be approximated by

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The use of the diode equation in circuit problems is illustrated in the article on diode modeling.

Small-signal behavior
At forward voltages less than the saturation voltage, the voltage versus current characteristic curve of most diodes is not a straight line. The current can be approximated by

as mentioned in the previous section.

In detector and mixer applications, the current can be estimated by a Taylor's series.[31] The odd terms can be omitted because they produce frequency components that are
outside the pass band of the mixer or detector. Even terms beyond the second derivative usually need not be included because they are small compared to the second order
term.[31] The desired current component is approximately proportional to the square of the input voltage, so the response is called square law in this region.[26]:p. 3

Reverse-recovery effect
Following the end of forward conduction in a p–n type diode, a reverse current can flow for a short time. The device does not attain its blocking capability until the mobile
charge in the junction is depleted.

The effect can be significant when switching large currents very quickly.[32] A certain amount of "reverse recovery time" tr (on the order of tens of nanoseconds to a few
microseconds) may be required to remove the reverse recovery charge Qr from the diode. During this recovery time, the diode can actually conduct in the reverse direction.
This might give rise to a large constant current in the reverse direction for a short time while the diode is reverse biased. The magnitude of such a reverse current is
determined by the operating circuit (i.e., the series resistance) and the diode is said to be in the storage-phase.[33] In certain real-world cases it is important to consider the
losses that are incurred by this non-ideal diode effect.[34] However, when the slew rate of the current is not so severe (e.g. Line frequency) the effect can be safely ignored. For
most applications, the effect is also negligible for Schottky diodes.

The reverse current ceases abruptly when the stored charge is depleted; this abrupt stop is exploited in step recovery diodes for generation of extremely short pulses.

Types of semiconductor diode

Normal (p–n) diodes, which operate as described above, are usually made of doped silicon or germanium. Before the development of silicon power rectifier diodes, cuprous
oxide and later selenium was used. Their low efficiency required a much higher forward voltage to be applied (typically 1.4 to 1.7 V per "cell", with multiple cells stacked so as
to increase the peak inverse voltage rating for application in high voltage rectifiers), and required a large heat sink (often an extension of the diode's metal substrate), much
larger than the later silicon diode of the same current ratings would require. The vast majority of all diodes are the p–n diodes found in CMOS integrated circuits, which
include two diodes per pin and many other internal diodes.

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Avalanche diodes
These are diodes that conduct in the reverse direction when the reverse bias voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage. These are
electrically very similar to Zener diodes (and are often mistakenly called Zener diodes), but break down by a different mechanism: the
avalanche effect. This occurs when the reverse electric field applied across the p–n junction causes a wave of ionization, reminiscent of an
avalanche, leading to a large current. Avalanche diodes are designed to break down at a well-defined reverse voltage without being
destroyed. The difference between the avalanche diode (which has a reverse breakdown above about 6.2 V) and the Zener is that the
channel length of the former exceeds the mean free path of the electrons, resulting in many collisions between them on the way through
the channel. The only practical difference between the two types is they have temperature coefficients of opposite polarities.
Constant current diodes
These are actually JFETs[35] with the gate shorted to the source, and function like a two-terminal current-limiting analog to the voltage-
limiting Zener diode. They allow a current through them to rise to a certain value, and then level off at a specific value. Also called CLDs,
constant-current diodes, diode-connected transistors, or current-regulating diodes.
Crystal rectifiers or crystal diodes
These are point-contact diodes.[26] The 1N21 series and others are used in mixer and detector applications in radar and microwave
receivers.[23][24][25] The 1N34A is another example of a crystal diode.[36]
Esaki or tunnel diodes
These have a region of operation showing negative resistance caused by quantum tunneling,[37] allowing amplification of signals and very
simple bistable circuits. Because of the high carrier concentration, tunnel diodes are very fast, may be used at low (mK) temperatures, high
magnetic fields, and in high radiation environments.[38] Because of these properties, they are often used in spacecraft.
Gunn diodes
These are similar to tunnel diodes in that they are made of materials such as GaAs or InP that exhibit a region of negative differential
resistance. With appropriate biasing, dipole domains form and travel across the diode, allowing high frequency microwave oscillators to be
built.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
In a diode formed from a direct band-gap semiconductor, such as gallium arsenide, charge carriers that cross the junction emit photons
when they recombine with the majority carrier on the other side. Depending on the material, wavelengths (or colors)[39] from the infrared to
the near ultraviolet may be produced.[40] The first LEDs were red and yellow, and higher-frequency diodes have been developed over time.
All LEDs produce incoherent, narrow-spectrum light; "white" LEDs are actually a blue LED with a yellow scintillator coating, or combinations
of three LEDs of a different color. LEDs can also be used as low-efficiency photodiodes in signal applications. An LED may be paired with a
photodiode or phototransistor in the same package, to form an opto-isolator.
Laser diodes
When an LED-like structure is contained in a resonant cavity formed by polishing the parallel end faces, a laser can be formed. Laser
diodes are commonly used in optical storage devices and for high speed optical communication.
Thermal diodes
This term is used both for conventional p–n diodes used to monitor temperature because of their varying forward voltage with temperature,
and for Peltier heat pumps for thermoelectric heating and cooling. Peltier heat pumps may be made from semiconductor, though they do
not have any rectifying junctions, they use the differing behaviour of charge carriers in N and P type semiconductor to move heat.
Photodiodes

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All semiconductors are subject to optical charge carrier generation. This is typically an undesired effect, so most semiconductors are
packaged in light blocking material. Photodiodes are intended to sense light(photodetector), so they are packaged in materials that allow
light to pass, and are usually PIN (the kind of diode most sensitive to light).[41] A photodiode can be used in solar cells, in photometry, or in
optical communications. Multiple photodiodes may be packaged in a single device, either as a linear array or as a two-dimensional array.
These arrays should not be confused with charge-coupled devices.
PIN diodes
A PIN diode has a central un-doped, or intrinsic, layer, forming a p-type/intrinsic/n-type structure.[42] They are used as radio frequency
switches and attenuators. They are also used as large-volume, ionizing-radiation detectors and as photodetectors. PIN diodes are also
used in power electronics, as their central layer can withstand high voltages. Furthermore, the PIN structure can be found in many power
semiconductor devices, such as IGBTs, power MOSFETs, and thyristors.
Schottky diodes
Schottky diodes are constructed from a metal to semiconductor contact. They have a lower forward voltage drop than p–n junction diodes.
Their forward voltage drop at forward currents of about 1 mA is in the range 0.15 V to 0.45 V, which makes them useful in voltage clamping
applications and prevention of transistor saturation. They can also be used as low loss rectifiers, although their reverse leakage current is
in general higher than that of other diodes. Schottky diodes are majority carrier devices and so do not suffer from minority carrier storage
problems that slow down many other diodes—so they have a faster reverse recovery than p–n junction diodes. They also tend to have
much lower junction capacitance than p–n diodes, which provides for high switching speeds and their use in high-speed circuitry and RF
devices such as switched-mode power supply, mixers, and detectors.
Super barrier diodes
Super barrier diodes are rectifier diodes that incorporate the low forward voltage drop of the Schottky diode with the surge-handling
capability and low reverse leakage current of a normal p–n junction diode.
Gold-doped diodes
As a dopant, gold (or platinum) acts as recombination centers, which helps a fast recombination of minority carriers. This allows the diode
to operate at signal frequencies, at the expense of a higher forward voltage drop. Gold-doped diodes are faster than other p–n diodes (but
not as fast as Schottky diodes). They also have less reverse-current leakage than Schottky diodes (but not as good as other p–n
diodes).[43][44] A typical example is the 1N914.
Snap-off or Step recovery diodes
The term step recovery relates to the form of the reverse recovery characteristic of these devices. After a forward current has been passing
in an SRD and the current is interrupted or reversed, the reverse conduction will cease very abruptly (as in a step waveform). SRDs can,
therefore, provide very fast voltage transitions by the very sudden disappearance of the charge carriers.
Stabistors or Forward Reference Diodes
The term stabistor refers to a special type of diodes featuring extremely stable forward voltage characteristics. These devices are specially
designed for low-voltage stabilization applications requiring a guaranteed voltage over a wide current range and highly stable over
temperature.
Transient voltage suppression diode (TVS)
These are avalanche diodes designed specifically to protect other semiconductor devices from high-voltage transients.[45] Their p–n
junctions have a much larger cross-sectional area than those of a normal diode, allowing them to conduct large currents to ground without
sustaining damage.
Varicap or varactor diodes
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These are used as voltage-controlled capacitors. These are important in PLL (phase-locked loop) and FLL (frequency-locked loop) circuits,
allowing tuning circuits, such as those in television receivers, to lock quickly on to the frequency. They also enabled tunable oscillators in
early discrete tuning of radios, where a cheap and stable, but fixed-frequency, crystal oscillator provided the reference frequency for a
voltage-controlled oscillator.
Zener diodes
These can be made to conduct in reverse bias (backward), and are correctly termed reverse breakdown diodes. This effect, called Zener
breakdown, occurs at a precisely defined voltage, allowing the diode to be used as a precision voltage reference. The term Zener diode is
colloquially applied to several types of breakdown diodes, but strictly speaking Zener diodes have a breakdown voltage of below 5 volts,
whilst avalanche diodes are used for breakdown voltages above that value. In practical voltage reference circuits, Zener and switching
diodes are connected in series and opposite directions to balance the temperature coefficient response of the diodes to near-zero. Some
devices labeled as high-voltage Zener diodes are actually avalanche diodes (see above). Two (equivalent) Zeners in series and in reverse
order, in the same package, constitute a transient absorber (or Transorb, a registered trademark).

Other uses for semiconductor diodes include the sensing of temperature, and computing analog logarithms (see Operational amplifier applications#Logarithmic output).

Graphic symbols
The symbol used to represent a particular type of diode in a circuit diagram conveys the general electrical function to the reader. There are alternative symbols for some types
of diodes, though the differences are minor. The triangle in the symbols points to the forward direction, i.e. in the direction of conventional current flow.

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Diode Light-emitting diode Photodiode Schottky diode Transient-voltage- Tunnel diode

(LED) suppression diode (TVS)

Varicap Zener diode Typical diode packages

in same alignment as
diode symbol. Thin bar
depicts the cathode.

Numbering and coding schemes

There are a number of common, standard and manufacturer-driven numbering and coding schemes for diodes; the two most common being the EIA/JEDEC standard and the
European Pro Electron standard:

EIA/JEDEC

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The standardized 1N-series numbering EIA370 system was introduced in the US by EIA/JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) about 1960. Most diodes have a
1-prefix designation (e.g., 1N4003). Among the most popular in this series were: 1N34A/1N270 (germanium signal), 1N914/1N4148 (silicon signal), 1N400x (silicon 1A power
rectifier), and 1N580x (silicon 3A power rectifier).[46][47][48]

JIS
The JIS semiconductor designation system has all semiconductor diode designations starting with "1S".

Pro Electron
The European Pro Electron coding system for active components was introduced in 1966 and comprises two letters followed by the part code. The first letter represents the
semiconductor material used for the component (A = germanium and B = silicon) and the second letter represents the general function of the part (for diodes, A = low-
power/signal, B = variable capacitance, X = multiplier, Y = rectifier and Z = voltage reference); for example:

AA-series germanium low-power/signal diodes (e.g., AA119)

BA-series silicon low-power/signal diodes (e.g., BAT18 silicon RF switching diode)
BY-series silicon rectifier diodes (e.g., BY127 1250V, 1A rectifier diode)
BZ-series silicon Zener diodes (e.g., BZY88C4V7 4.7V Zener diode)
Other common numbering / coding systems (generally manufacturer-driven) include:

GD-series germanium diodes (e.g., GD9) – this is a very old coding system
OA-series germanium diodes (e.g., OA47) – a coding sequence developed by Mullard, a UK company
As well as these common codes, many manufacturers or organisations have their own systems too – for example:

HP diode 1901-0044 = JEDEC 1N4148

UK military diode CV448 = Mullard type OA81 = GEC type GEX23

Related devices
Rectifier
Transistor
Thyristor or silicon controlled rectifier (SCR)
TRIAC
DIAC
Varistor

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In optics, an equivalent device for the diode but with laser light would be the Optical isolator, also known as an Optical Diode, that allows light to only pass in one direction. It
uses a Faraday rotator as the main component.

Applications

Radio demodulation
The first use for the diode was the demodulation of amplitude modulated (AM) radio broadcasts. The history of this
discovery is treated in depth in the radio article. In summary, an AM signal consists of alternating positive and
negative peaks of a radio carrier wave, whose amplitude or envelope is proportional to the original audio signal. The
diode rectifies the AM radio frequency signal, leaving only the positive peaks of the carrier wave. The audio is then
extracted from the rectified carrier wave using a simple filter and fed into an audio amplifier or transducer, which
A simple envelope demodulator circuit.
generates sound waves.

In microwave and millimeter wave technology, beginning in the 1930s, researchers improved and miniaturized the
crystal detector. Point contact diodes (crystal diodes) and Schottky diodes are used in radar, microwave and millimeter wave detectors.[29]

Power conversion
Rectifiers are constructed from diodes, where they are used to convert alternating current (ac) electricity into direct current
(dc). Automotive alternators are a common example, where the diode, which rectifies the AC into dc, provides better
performance than the commutator or earlier, dynamo. Similarly, diodes are also used in Cockcroft–Walton voltage
multipliers to convert ac into higher ac voltages.

Schematic of basic ac-to-dc power supply

Over-voltage protection
Diodes are frequently used to conduct damaging high voltages away from sensitive electronic devices. They are usually reverse-biased (non-conducting) under normal
circumstances. When the voltage rises above the normal range, the diodes become forward-biased (conducting). For example, diodes are used in (stepper motor and H-bridge)
motor controller and relay circuits to de-energize coils rapidly without the damaging voltage spikes that would otherwise occur. (A diode used in such an application is called a
flyback diode). Many integrated circuits also incorporate diodes on the connection pins to prevent external voltages from damaging their sensitive transistors. Specialized
diodes are used to protect from over-voltages at higher power (see Diode types above).

Logic gates
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Diodes can be combined with other components to construct AND and OR logic gates. This is referred to as diode logic.

Ionizing radiation detectors

In addition to light, mentioned above, semiconductor diodes are sensitive to more energetic radiation. In electronics, cosmic rays and other sources of ionizing radiation cause
noise pulses and single and multiple bit errors. This effect is sometimes exploited by particle detectors to detect radiation. A single particle of radiation, with thousands or
millions of electron volts of energy, generates many charge carrier pairs, as its energy is deposited in the semiconductor material. If the depletion layer is large enough to catch
the whole shower or to stop a heavy particle, a fairly accurate measurement of the particle's energy can be made, simply by measuring the charge conducted and without the
complexity of a magnetic spectrometer, etc. These semiconductor radiation detectors need efficient and uniform charge collection and low leakage current. They are often
cooled by liquid nitrogen. For longer-range (about a centimetre) particles, they need a very large depletion depth and large area. For short-range particles, they need any
contact or un-depleted semiconductor on at least one surface to be very thin. The back-bias voltages are near breakdown (around a thousand volts per centimetre).
Germanium and silicon are common materials. Some of these detectors sense position as well as energy. They have a finite life, especially when detecting heavy particles,
because of radiation damage. Silicon and germanium are quite different in their ability to convert gamma rays to electron showers.

Semiconductor detectors for high-energy particles are used in large numbers. Because of energy loss fluctuations, accurate measurement of the energy deposited is of less use.

Temperature measurements
A diode can be used as a temperature measuring device, since the forward voltage drop across the diode depends on temperature, as in a silicon bandgap temperature sensor.
From the Shockley ideal diode equation given above, it might appear that the voltage has a positive temperature coefficient (at a constant current), but usually the variation of
the reverse saturation current term is more significant than the variation in the thermal voltage term. Most diodes therefore have a negative temperature coefficient, typically
−2 mV/˚C for silicon diodes. The temperature coefficient is approximately constant for temperatures above about 20 kelvin. Some graphs are given for 1N400x series,[49] and
CY7 cryogenic temperature sensor.[50]

Current steering
Diodes will prevent currents in unintended directions. To supply power to an electrical circuit during a power failure, the circuit can draw current from a battery. An
uninterruptible power supply may use diodes in this way to ensure that current is only drawn from the battery when necessary. Likewise, small boats typically have two
circuits each with their own battery/batteries: one used for engine starting; one used for domestics. Normally, both are charged from a single alternator, and a heavy-duty
split-charge diode is used to prevent the higher-charge battery (typically the engine battery) from discharging through the lower-charge battery when the alternator is not
running.

Diodes are also used in electronic musical keyboards. To reduce the amount of wiring needed in electronic musical keyboards, these instruments often use keyboard matrix
circuits. The keyboard controller scans the rows and columns to determine which note the player has pressed. The problem with matrix circuits is that, when several notes are
pressed at once, the current can flow backwards through the circuit and trigger "phantom keys" that cause "ghost" notes to play. To avoid triggering unwanted notes, most
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keyboard matrix circuits have diodes soldered with the switch under each key of the musical keyboard. The same principle is also used for the switch matrix in solid-state
pinball machines.

Waveform clipper
Diodes can be used to limit the positive or negative excursion of a signal to a prescribed voltage.

Clamper
A diode clamp circuit can take a periodic alternating current signal that oscillates between positive and negative values, and vertically displace
it such that either the positive, or the negative peaks occur at a prescribed level. The clamper does not restrict the peak-to-peak excursion of the
signal, it moves the whole signal up or down so as to place the peaks at the reference level.

Abbreviations
Diodes are usually referred to as D for diode on PCBs. Sometimes the abbreviation CR for crystal rectifier is used.[51] This simple diode clamp
will clamp the negative
peaks of the incoming
See also waveform to the
common rail voltage
Active rectification
Diode modelling
Junction diode
Lambda diode
p–n junction
Small-signal model

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tps://www.worldcat.org/issn/0734-2101). s://www.scribd.com/document/37134001/MIT-Radiaton-Lab-Series-V15-Crystal-
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Jmargolin.com. Retrieved 2008-09-22. 27. H. Q. North, Asymmetrically Conductive Device, U.S. patent 2,704,818 (https://pa
tentimages.storage.googleapis.com/fe/87/8a/7e1064ddfc7d8a/US2704818.pdf)
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conduction in metal sulphides), Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 153 : 556–563. Module 11, 1998, pp. 2-54 - 2-57 (http://ars.nc4fb.org/NEETS/module%2011.pdf)

15. Karl Ferdinand Braun (https://web.archive.org/web/20060211010305/http://chem. 29. Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Mixer and Detector Diodes (http://www.skyworksinc.co
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7/hw/hw1/Diode%20reverse%20recovery%20in%20a%20boost%20converter.pd 43. Fast Recovery Epitaxial Diodes (FRED) Characteristics – Applications –
f). ECEN5817. ecee.colorado.edu Examples (http://www.ixyspower.com/images/technical_support/Application%20N
33. Elhami Khorasani, A.; Griswold, M.; Alford, T. L. (2014). "Gate-Controlled otes%20By%20Topic/FREDs,%20Schottky%20and%20GaAS%20Diodes/IXAN0
Reverse Recovery for Characterization of LDMOS Body Diode". IEEE Electron 044.pdf). (PDF). Retrieved 2013-12-19.
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g/10.1109%2FLED.2014.2353301). 45. Protecting Low Current Loads in Harsh Electrical Environments (http://digikey.co
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colorado.edu/~ecen5797/course_material/SwLossSlides.pdf). ECEN5797. CurrentLoads.pdf). Digikey.com (2009-05-27). Retrieved 2013-12-19.
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36. NTE data sheet (http://www.nteinc.com/specs/original/1N34A.pdf) ansistors-and-diodes-t94332.html). EDAboard.com. 2010-06-10. Archived from
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Applied Physics. 12 (12): 654. Bibcode:1961BJAP...12..654J (http://adsabs.harva nd-diodes-t94332.html) on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
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38. Dowdey, J. E.; Travis, C. M. (1964). "An Analysis of Steady-State Nuclear History" (http://semiconductormuseum.com/Museum_Index.htm).
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(5): 55. Bibcode:1964ITNS...11...55D (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1964ITNS... 49. "1N400x Diode Family Forward Voltage" (https://web.archive.org/web/201305241
11...55D). doi:10.1109/TNS2.1964.4315475 (https://doi.org/10.1109%2FTNS2.19 53406/http://www.cliftonlaboratories.com/1n400x_diode_family_forward_voltage.
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External links
Diodes and Rectifiers (http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_3/1.html) – Chapter on All About Circuits
Structure and Functional Behavior of PIN Diodes (http://www.powerguru.org/structure-and-functional-behavior-of-pin-diodes/) – PowerGuru

Interactive and animations

Interactive Explanation of Semiconductor Diode (http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/mmg/teaching/linearcircuits/diode.html), University of Cambridge

Schottky Diode Flash Tutorial Animation (http://www.ee.byu.edu/cleanroom/schottky_animation.phtml)

Datasheets / Databooks

Discrete Databook (Historical 1978) (https://archive.org/details/NationalSemiconductorDiscreteDatabook1978), National Semiconductor (now Texas Instruments)
Discrete Databook (Historical 1982) (https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_sgsdataBooDevices5ed_46325378), SGS (now STMicroelectronics)
Discrete Databook (Historical 1985) (https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_fairchilddldDiscreteDataBook_35122751), Fairchild

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