The diode conducts current when the voltage at the anode is higher than the voltage at the cathode by more than a value specified in a datasheet (roughly 0.7 V in the case of silicon pn junction diodes). It does not conduct current when the difference between the anode and cathode potenti...
In a Schottky diode, a semiconductor–metal junction is formed between a semiconductor and a metal, thus creating a Schottky barrier. The N-type semiconductor acts as the cathode and the metal side acts as the anode of the diode. This Schottky barrier results in both a low forward voltage d...
A diode is the simplest possible semiconductor device, and is therefore an excellent beginning point if you want to understand how semiconductors work. In this article, you'll learn what a semiconductor is, how doping works and how a diode can be created using semiconductors. But first, let'...
A diode is the simplest sort of semiconductor device. Broadly speaking, a semiconductor is a material with a varying ability to conduct electrical current. Most semiconductors are made of a poor conductor that has had impurities (atoms of another material) added to it. The process of adding imp...
What is light emitting diode? What does a light emitting diode do? How does a solid-state laser work? How many types of laser diodes are there? What is the slope efficiency of a laser diode? How do semiconductor ionizing radiation detectors work?
Inside your CD player, there is a miniature laser beam (called a semiconductor diode laser) and a small photoelectric cell (an electronic light detector). When you press play, an electric motor (not shown in this diagram) makes the disc rotate at high speed (up to 500rpm). The laser be...
Understanding these concepts provides the basis behind understanding how a vacuum tube works. Although these electronic components may seem rather dated in todays semiconductor dominated world, these devices are sometimes still used and the technology can still be relevant in todays world....
All rectifiers use P-N junctions, semiconductor devices that let electric current flow in only a single direction from the formation of p-type semiconductors with n-type semiconductors. The "p" side has an excess of holes (locations where there are no electrons) so it is positively ch...
How do semiconductor ionizing radiation detectors work? How is electromagnetic radiation used in medicine? What type of energy does a radio use? How is ionizing radiation used? How does a linear transducer work? How is electromagnetic radiation created?
How Does An LED Work? Since the working of an OLED is quite similar to an LED, it’s important that you first understand how a basic LED works before tackling OLED systems. An LED consists of two slabs of semiconductor materials (germanium and silicon are commonly used), one of which is...