Current voltage characteristic

A semiconductor diode is behavior in a circuit is given byTDA1578

 its current voltage characteristic, or graph (see graph below). The shape of the curve is determined by the transport of chargeVND600SP

 carriers through the so-called depletion layer or depletion region that exists at the p-n junction between differing semiconductors. When a p-nAN8169N

 junction is first created, conduction band (mobile) electrons from the N-doped region diffuse into the P-doped region where there is a large population of holes (vacant5218a

 places for electrons) with which the electrons recombine. When a mobile electron recombines with a hole, both hole and electron vanish, leaving behind an immobile positively charged donor (dopant)2N5088

 on the N-side and negatively charged acceptor (dopant) on the P-side. The region around the p-n junction becomes depleted of charge carriers and thus behaves as an insulator.