Working principle of Zener Diode:
The working of Zener Diode, both in forward and reverse direction. I also illustrated it's working along with the V-I characteristics curve.
These special diodes behave in a forward or forward direction switched as normal silicon diodes. Their special properties they exhibit when operating in reverse or backward direction. Here, the diodes have a very limited breakdown voltage with a steep current increase. The diodes are doped so that under certain conditions a permanent operation in the area of the steep rise of the barrier characteristics is possible without destroying the part. These properties are especially simple circuits for voltage stabilization used.
The breakthrough in the stop band is obtained with the stabilization by a special diode doping. It can be diodes with breakdown voltages between 2 to 200 volts. From a certain reverse voltage suddenly many carriers are available. This observation can be explained by two effects, the Zener effect and avalanche effect.
The Zener effect
In highly doped silicon diodes breakdown voltages in the off region is less than 5 volts, provides the Zener effect for the increase in current. In the barrier layer, the electric field strength is so large that they create the electron pair bonds are broken in the crystal lattice association a certain voltage. In the barrier layer, charge carriers that constitute the Zener effect. In this case, taking the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer and the differential junction resistance decreases.
The avalanche effect
For breakdown voltages of greater than 6 volts results in the lightly doped silicon avalanche diode or avalanche effect the release of charge carriers in the barrier layer. The charge carriers are accelerated by the electric field of higher blocking voltage. In collisions with electrons of the atomic lattice bond more electrons are knocked free. These are also accelerated and can turn again to release electrons. This process of impact ionization is also called avalanche effect.
Both effects, the Zener and avalanche effect, overlap and destroy the semiconductor, unless certain limits are met.
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