Physics – Uses Of Diode – Definition and Types

Introduction

In today’s age, several electronics get used daily. The majority of these electronics consist of diodes. A diode is a component used in several electrical setups. It is formed by combining two semiconductors.

The combination of P and N semiconductors may form a diode. Primarily, it conducts electricity in one direction but restricts flow in the opposite direction. It may also be used for rectification of current from AC to DC.

These characteristics of diodes make them useful in everyday electrical setups. However, one must understand its meaning before understanding the uses of a diode. So, let’s look into the diode’s definition, types, and uses.

What are Diodes?

Diode is a dual-terminal electronic component. It helps conduct current in one direction and restricts flow in the other direction. A simple diode may consist of semiconductors. These semiconductors may be P-type, N-type, silicon, or germanium.

The diode consists of two voltages – anode and cathode. If the anode side is more positive than the cathode side, it is called forward biased. Forward-biased diodes conduct currents with low voltage drops.

However, if the anode voltage is less positive than the cathode voltage, it is reverse-biased. Reverse-biased diodes conduct currents with a complete drop in voltage. Diodes may be divided into various types depending on how they conduct current. Different types of diodes may also have varied uses.

Types of Diodes

1. Light-emitting Diode

A light-emitting diode produces light when enough current passes through it. But, the light may not be visible in all situations due to frequency levels. However, one can find LEDs in various colours.

Some LEDs may also emit tri-coloured light at once. The colour of light emitted depends on the energy gap of semiconductors.

1. Laser Diode

Laser diodes are quite similar to LEDs. They produce coherent light on the conduction of electricity. Such diodes are costlier than LEDs but cheaper than other laser generators. Thus, they find they get used in DVDs, laser devices, and CDs. A prominent drawback of these diodes is their limited lifetime.

1. Avalanche Diode

Avalanche diodes are reverse bias diodes used for photodetection. They work on the principles of the avalanche effect. They are highly sensitive diodes and work under certain conditions.

The breakdown of avalanches is an essential phenomenon for operating avalanche diodes. The breakdown occurs when the voltage drop is independent of current and constant.

1. Zener Diode

Zener diodes are reverse-biased diodes and the most useful out of all. The passage of current in their diodes is limited and generates a stable voltage. This is called stable reference voltage.

If the diode operates after the reference voltage, it will break down. This quality makes these diodes highly useful. They are used to determine the voltage limit of power supplies.

1. Schottky Diode

Schottky diodes are a special kind of forward-biased diodes. They have a very low forward voltage as compared to other PN diodes. The voltage drop takes place at a very low current. The drop may range between 0.15 to 0.4 volts only.

These diodes are constructed under special circumstances to obtain such performance. These diodes are commonly used for rectifiers.

1. Photodiode

Photodiodes are reverse-biased diodes that detect electricity from light. They can detect even the smallest amount of current from light. Thus, they get used for detecting light in solar cells and photometers. One can also use these to generate electricity.

1. PN Junction Diode

PN junction diodes are today’s most common type of diode. They are created by doping on one layer with p-type material and another with n-type material. The junction between the two materials is called the PN junction.

The make-up of these diodes allows them to conduct electricity only in one direction. At the same time, the flow of current in the opposite direction gets restricted. Thus, these diodes find use in the rectification process and are called rectifier diodes.

Uses of diodes in the practical world

The varied functions of diodes divide them into different types. Each of these diodes finds application in numerous ways in the real world. Given below are some prominent uses of diodes in the practical world:

• The most significant use of diodes is to convert AC to DC. It does so by removing certain parts of the current. It allows us to use diodes as rectifiers. Thus, they may get used in electric switches and surge protectors to prevent voltage spikes.
• Modern processors also consist of millions of diodes as logic gates. This is done as diodes can perform digital logic with efficiency.
• Zener Diodes are special types of reverse diodes and find use as voltage regulators. They are also used in varactors for electronic tuning. Lastly, Zener diodes are used in varistors to suppress AC lines.
• LEDs or light-emitting diodes are mostly used in laser devices and sensors. They can also find use in many light-illuminating devices.
  • Diodes are used to create voltage doublers and power supplies. This is done by using full-wave rectifiers to deliver stable voltage. Furthermore, diodes are combined with capacitors to multiply small AC voltage and create high voltages.

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