Is Schottky diode a Zener diode?
Schottky diodes and Zener diodes are two different types of diodes. The main difference between Schottky and Zener diode is that a Schottky diode is made of a metal-semiconductor junction whereas a Zener diode is made of a p-n junction of two highly-doped semiconductors.
What does Zener diode do?
A Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor device that permits current to flow in either a forward or reverse direction. The diode consists of a special, heavily doped p-n junction, designed to conduct in the reverse direction when a certain specified voltage is reached.
How is Zener diode different from ordinary diode?
A diode is a semiconductor device which conducts in one direction only. A Zener diode is a semiconductor device which conducts in forward biased as well as reversed biased. A normal diode if operated in reversed biased will get destroyed.
How are zener diodes marked?
Diodes usually come in glass or plastic cylindrical packages, marked with a stripe on one side to indicate polarity. In a perfectly ideal diode, current flows in one direction only, from the anode (positive side) to the cathode (negative side) which is marked with the stripe.
How is Zener diode different from PN diode?
The main difference between the PN junction diode and the Zener diode is that the PN junction diode allows the flow of electron in one direction only, whereas the Zener diode allows the flow of electron in both directions.
How is the Zener diode different from a normal diode?
The Zener diode behaves just like a normal general-purpose diode consisting of a silicon PN junction and when biased in the forward direction, that is Anode positive with respect to its Cathode, it behaves just like a normal signal diode passing the rated current.
When does Avalanche occur in a Zener diode?
The avalanche effect occurs in both rectifier and Zener diodes at a sufficiently high reverse voltage. On the other hand, Zener breakdown occurs in a Zener diode at low reverse voltages. A Zener diode is heavily doped to reduce the breakdown voltage.
How is the Zener effect related to semiconductors?
This effect is known as the Zener Effect. A Zener diode is a heavily doped semiconductor device that is designed to operate in the reverse direction. Zener diodes are manufactured with a great variety of Zener voltages (Vz) and some are even made variable.
What happens when the Zener voltage is reversed?
When the voltage across the terminals of a Zener diode is reversed and the potential reaches the Zener Voltage (knee voltage), the junction breaks down and the current flows in the reverse direction. This effect is known as the Zener Effect.