Title:

Components and Devices I

Aim:
To investigate the characteristics of certain electrical components and
devices
Introduction and Theory:
A diode is a two terminal electronic component that conducts primarily in one
direction; it has low resistance to the flow of current in one direction and high
resistance in the other. The two main types of semiconductor diodes are the
silicon and germanium.
Silicon diodes are used in high voltage/ high current power supplies.
Germanium diodes are used where there is a low voltage drop required.
The main advantage of the silicon diode over the germanium diode is, that it
is more resistant to the heat from processes such as soldering.
The main advantage of the germanium diode over the silicon diode is that it
has a forward voltage of only 0.3 V compared to 0.7 V of the silicon diode.
A zener diode is one which permits current to flow in the forward direction.
What makes the zener diode unique is they also allow current to flow in the
reverse direction when the voltage is above a certain value. Some
applications of zener diodes are, voltage regulators, switching operations and
surge suppressors.
An LED (Light emitting diode) is a semiconductor device that emits a visible
light when a current passes through it. Some applications of light emitting
diodes are indicator lights, LCD panel backlighting and ease of modulation
during fiber optic data transmission.
Forward and reversed biased simply indicate the direction in which current
flows through the PN junctions in a device.
Forward biasing is when voltage is applied across a P-N junction in the
forward direction and reversed bias is when voltage is applied across a P-N
junction in the reversed direction.

Diagrams:

GERMANIUM DIODES:

SILICON DIODES:

Light Emitting diodes:

Zener diodes:

Methods:
By using a power supply, the forward and reversed biased voltages and
currents were determined for:
Silicon diodes
Germanium diodes
Zener diodes
Light emitting diode

Results:
Silicon Diode (Forward Biased)

Voltage on Power Supply/V

0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2

Forward Voltage/V
0.150
0.220
0.297
0.430
0.585
0.618
0.716
0.774
0.796
0.804
0.835
0.853

Forward Current/mA
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.03
0.48
1.18
7.14
22.3
31.6
35.3
52
67.4

Silicon Diode (Reversed Biased)

Voltage on Power Supply
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2

Reversed Voltage/V
0.174
0.285
0.336
0.511
0.587
0.685
0.754
0.888
0.953
1.092
1.176
1.23

Reversed Current/A
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3

Germanium Diode (Forward Biased)

Voltage on Power Supply/V
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5

Forward Voltage/V
0.21
0.293
0.364
0.433
0.566

Forward Current/mA
0.19
0.64
1.16
1.8
3.22

0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2

0.7
0.768
0.85
0.942
0.975
1.126
1.163

4.85
5.75
6.93
8.15
8.69
10.94
11.4

Germanium Diode (Reversed Biased)

Voltage on Power Supply
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2

Reversed Voltage/V
0.196
0.261
0.424
0.454
0.584
0.713
0.827
0.881
0.986
1.06
1.185
1.246

Current/A
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.5

Zener diode (Forward Biased)

Voltage on Power Supply
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9

Forward Voltage/V
0.146
0.323
0.341
0.489
0.591
0.694
0.728
0.847
0.942

Forward Current/A
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3

1.0
1.1
1.2

1.016
1.167
1.256

0.3
0.3
0.3

Zener diode (Reversed Biased)

Voltage on Power Supply
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2

Reversed Voltage/V
0.188
0.296
0.372
0.483
0.51
0.552
0.570
0.588
0.593
0.597
0.601
0.617

Reversed Current/A
0.4
1.9
7.1
77.9
133.2
343
475
721
808
867
957
1296

Light emitting diode required current and voltage to light (Forward Biased)
Required to light

Voltage
2.23V

Current
24.7 mA

The light emitting diode in the reversed biased position did not light.
The LED light yellow/green.

Discussion:
Silicon and Germanium diodes:

Zener diodes:

Sources of error:

Instrument error where the values obtained were erroneous due to fault in
the equipment.
Observational errors where the student may have placed the diode in the
reverse direction and considered it forward biased.
Difficulties:
When turning the voltage dial on the power supply, it was a challenge since
the knob was very sensitive.
Improvements:
Use a power supply with a less sensitive knob.
Conclusion:
The IV characteristics of the Silicon diode, Germanium diode, Zener diode and
the light emitting diode were determined. Additionally, with the results the
curve of both forward and reversed biased voltage and currents were drawn.
References:
The University of St. Augustine, Faculty of Science and Technology,
Department of Physics, Laboratory Manual.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/images