Lab 4

Diode Characteristics

Objectives:
• Study the characteristics (I-V curve) of a diode.
• Deduce the forward working voltage of the diode (VD).
The curve of the Zener diode will also be looked at.

Equipment:
DC Power supply
Diode 1N4007
Zener Diode ZPD 9.1
Resistor (150 Ω)
Ammeter
Voltmeter

I- Theory

A) PN junction (Diode)

The diode is a device formed from a junction of n-type and p-type semiconductor material. The
lead connected to the p-type material is called the anode and the lead connected to the n-type
material is the cathode. In general, the cathode of a diode is marked by a solid line on the diode.

Figure 1: The symbol for a diode compared to an actual diode package.

The primary function of the diode is the rectification. When it is forward biased (the higher
potential is connected to the anode lead), it will pass current. When it is reverse biased (the
higher potential is connected to the cathode lead), the current is blocked. The characteristic
curves of an ideal diode and a real diode are seen in Figure 2.
 Figure 2: Characteristics of an Ideal diode (left). Characteristics of a real diode (right).

When analyzing circuits, the real diode is usually replaced with a simpler model. The simplest
form, the diode is modeled by a switch (Figure 3). The switch is closed (by loosing VD) when the
diode is forward biased and open when the diode is reverse biased.

i i

+ vdiode - + vdiode -
(vdiode <VD, i = 0) vdiode =VD
Figure 3: Equivalent Circuit of Diode

B) The Zener Diode

In the previous Diode Characteristics, we saw that a “reverse biased” diode blocks current in
the reverse direction, but will suffer from premature breakdown or damage if the reverse voltage
applied across it is too high.
However, the Zener Diode or “Breakdown Diode” as they are sometimes called, are basically
the same as the standard PN junction diode but are specially designed to have a low pre-
determinedReverse Breakdown Voltage that takes advantage of this high reverse voltage.
The zener diode is the simplest types of voltage regulator and the point at which a zener diode
breaks down or conducts is called the “Zener Voltage” ( Vz ).
The Zener diode is like a general-purpose signal diode consisting of a silicon PN junction.
When biased in the forward direction it behaves just like a normal signal diode passing the rated
current, but as soon as a reverse voltage applied across the zener diode exceeds the rated voltage
of the device, the diodes breakdown voltage VB is reached at which point a process
called Avalanche Breakdown occurs in the semiconductor depletion layer and a current starts to
flow through the diode to limit this increase in voltage.
The current now flowing through the zener diode increases dramatically to the maximum circuit
value (which is usually limited by a series resistor) and once achieved this reverse saturation
current remains fairly constant over a wide range of applied voltages. This breakdown voltage
point, VB is called the “zener voltage” for zener diodes and can range from less than one volt to
hundreds of volts.
The point at which the zener voltage triggers the current to flow through the diode can be very
accurately controlled (to less than 1% tolerance) in the doping stage of the diodes semiconductor
construction giving the diode a specific zener breakdown voltage, ( Vz ) for example, 4.3V or
7.5V. This zener breakdown voltage on the I-V curve is almost a vertical straight line.

Figure 4: Zener Diode I-V Characteristics

II- Experience
A) Diode Characteristics

Procedure:
1. Set up the circuit as shown in Figure 5.
I
A
R
+ V
V0
-

Figure 5: Circuit for measuring

2. Using the DC power supply vary the input voltage V0 and measure the current I and the voltage V
of the diode, and fill the table below.
V0 (Volts) -0.1 0 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.3

V (Volts)

I (mA)

V0 (Volts) 1.5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 15

V (Volts)

I (mA)

Questions for Lab Report:

1) Represent the characteristics (I-V curve) of the diode.

2) Deduce the value of the diode forward voltage VD, from the curve.

B) Zener Diode Characteristics

Repeat the procedure for the Zener diode by filling the table below, and representing the
characteristics (I-V curve) of the Zener diode.
Deduce the value of the diode forward voltage VD and the Zener voltage from the curve.

V0 (Volts) -15 -10 -9.5 -9 -8.5 -8 -7 -5 0 0.2 0.4 0.5

V (Volts)

I (mA)

V0 (Volts) 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.5 2 3 4 5 7

V (Volts)

I (mA)

Questions for Lab Report:

1) Represent the characteristics (I-V curve) of the Zener diode.

2) Deduce the value of the diode forward voltage VD and the Zener voltage from the curve.