ELECTRONICS LABORATORY

SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

Name : Gabriel, Marielle M.

Student #: 2018103210

Introduction:
A diode is a di-electrode device that behaves as a one-directional switch. It allows current from
its anode to cathode terminal when it has forward bias. On the other hand, it has almost zero
current when it is in reverse bias. There are different types of semiconductor diodes, such as:
rectifier diode, Zener diode, light-emitting diode, Schottky diode, varactor diode, and other
kinds. In this activity, we are going to use the rectifier diode. Let us utilize the LTSPICE to run
simulations and determine the characteristics of rectifier diodes and their circuits.

Part 1: Semiconductor Diodes

Our objective is to be familiar with the different kinds of Semiconductor Diodes, before
proceeding with rectifier diodes.

Semiconductor Diode
A p n junction is known as a Semiconductor Diode. The p n junction is used for the purpose of
rectification as it conducts only in one direction. It is also known as crystal diode as it is made
of a crystal-like Silicon or Germanium. The symbol of the semiconductor diode is shown below.

It has two terminals. It conducts only

when it is forward biased. This means when the terminal connected with the
arrowhead is at a higher potential than the terminal connected to the bar as shown
in the above figure. When the semiconductor diode is reversed biased, practically it
does not conduct any current through it.

1.1 Fill-up the Table 1. Write the application/s and attach a sample photo for each type of
semiconductor diode. Do not forget to indicate the source or website where we got the photos.

Table 1. Types of Semiconductor Diodes

Semicondu Application Sample Photo Source or website of photo
ctor Diode
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

Rectifier semiconduc https://electronicsclub.info/diodes.htm

Diode tor diode Rectifier diodes are used in power supplies
designed to convert alternating current (AC) to direct
for current (DC), a process called rectification.
rectifying They are also used elsewhere in circuits
alternating where a large current must pass through the
current diode.
(mostly
with low
power
frequency –
50 Hz at
high power
emitted
during
load).

Zener A Zener https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_diode

Diode diode is a
silicon Zener diodes are used for voltage
semiconduc regulation, as reference elements, surge
tor device suppressors, and in switching applications
that and clipper circuits.
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
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

the reverse
direction
when a
certain
specified
voltage is
reached.
Light A light- https://www.dummies.com/programming/electr
Emitting emitting onics/become-familiar-leds/
Diode diode (LED)
is a
semiconduc
tor light
source that
emits light
when
current
flows
through it.
Electrons in
the
semiconduc
tor
recombine
with
electron
holes,
releasing
energy in
the form of
photons.
The color of
the light
(correspond
ing to the
energy of
the
photons) is
determined
by the
energy
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

required for
electrons to
cross the
band gap of
the
semiconduc
tor. White
light is
obtained by
using
multiple
semiconduc
tors or a
layer of
light-
emitting
phosphor
on the
semiconduc
tor device.
Varactor The diode https://www.electronicshub.org/varactor-diode/
Diode whose
internal
capacitance
varies with
the
variation of
the reverse
voltage
such type of
diode is
known as
the
Varactor
diode. It is
used for
storing the
charge. The
varactor
diode
always
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

works in
reverse
bias, and it
is a voltage-
dependent
semiconduc
tor device.
Schottky The https://dragon-switch.com/bat41-schottky-diode
Diode Schottky
diode
(named
after the
German
physicist
Walter H.
Schottky),
also known
as Schottky
barrier
diode or
hot-carrier
diode, is a
semiconduc
tor diode
formed by
the junction
of a
semiconduc
tor with a
metal. It
has a low
forward
voltage
drop and a
very fast
switching
action. The
cat's-
whisker
detectors
used in the
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

early days
of wireless
and metal
rectifiers
used in
early power
applications
can be
considered
primitive
Schottky
diodes.
Part 2: Characteristics of Rectifier Diode
Our objective is to simulate the characteristics of a Rectifier Diode by using the LTSPICE tool.

Here is a link about ‘Getting Started with LTSPICE.’

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/getting-started-with-ltspice/all

2.1 Connect the circuit diagram, as shown in Figure 1, in LTSPICE tool.

The student or group may use another kind of rectifier diode for diode D1, another value of resistance
for resistor R1, and another voltage level for dc voltage source V1. Take the photo of your own circuit
diagram drawn in LTSPICE tool, and place it in Figure 2. (One way to capture the screen in LTSPICE is:
View > Paste Bitmap.)

Fig. 1. Diode Circuit (sample). Fig. 2. Connection of Diode Circuit.

2.2 Include a SPICE directive in your schematic diagram. In Figure 1, the directive is .DC V1 -100 100 1.
This directive describes the dc simulation, wherein the voltage of V1 will start from -100 V to +100 V
with an increment of +1 V.
2.4
For your simulation, set the dc simulation from +200 V to -200 V with 1 V increment. Run your
simulation and show the waveform of current along diode D1. Figure 3 shows the example of the
simulation waveform for the diode circuit in Figure 1. In Figure 3, the current of diode D1, I(D1), is in y-
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

axis and the voltage of V1 is in x-axis. Now, take a photo of your own waveform, you may use snipping
tool, and place it in Figure 4.

Fig. 3. I(D1) vs. V1 (sample). Fig. 4. Current along Diode D1.

2.3 Modify your simulation waveform. Display in the x-axis the voltage across the diode D1. In y-axis,
display the current along the diode D1. Take a snapshot of this waveform, and place it in Figure 5.
Complete the caption of Figure 5 by writing the part number of your diode D1. (Example: The part
number of diode D1 in Figure 1 is 1N914.)

Fig. 5. Current-Voltage Characteristics of Diode in x-axis and y-axis.

2.4 Based on the simulation results in Figure 4 and Figure 5, indicate in Table 2 the voltage and current
of diode D1.
Table 2. Current and Voltage of Diode in x-axis and y-axis.
Voltage of Bias V1 Voltage across Diode D1 Current along Diode D1
- 10 V 0 0
-5V 0 0
0V 0 0
0.25 V 0.25 0.25
0.50 V 0.50 0.50
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0.75 V 0.75 0.75

1V 1V 1
5V 5V 5
10 V 10V 0

* I(D1) didn’t reach the 10 V.

I based the result from the simulation. Voltage of Bias V1 was given already, Voltage across
Diode D1 was based in the color blue with name V(n002) in the original simulation, but the
representation color above is Green and current along Diode D1 was based in the color of Red with
name (ID1) in the original simulation and representation color above is red as well.
2.5 Based on the simulation results, briefly explain how to turn on the diode?
A diode requires a considerable degree of positive voltage to also be attached throughout the diode.
The standard voltage needed to turn the diode on is called the forward voltage (VF). This may be
named cut-in voltage or on-voltage.
2.6 Based on the simulation results, briefly explain how to turn off the diode?
When the voltage is negative, no current can flow, and the ideal diode appears to become an open
circuit. Therefore, the diode is assumed to be off or reverse biased (RB).
Part 3: Half-Wave Rectifier
Half Wave Rectifier Theory
A half wave rectifier is the simplest form of rectifier available. We will look at a
complete half wave rectifier circuit later – but let’s first understand exactly what
this type of rectifier is doing.

The diagram below illustrates the basic principle of a half-wave rectifier. When a
standard AC waveform is passed through a half-wave rectifier, only half of the
AC waveform remains. Half-wave rectifiers only allow one half-cycle (positive or
negative half-cycle) of the AC voltage through and will block the other half-cycle
on the DC side, as seen below.
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Only one diode is required to construct a half-wave rectifier. In essence, this is all
that the half-wave rectifier is doing.

Since DC systems are designed to have current flowing in a single direction (and
constant voltage – which we’ll describe later), putting an AC waveform with
positive and negative cycles through a DC device can have destructive (and
dangerous) consequences. So we use half-wave rectifiers to convert the AC input
power into DC output power.

But the diode is only part of it – a complete half-wave rectifier circuit consists of 3
main parts:
1. A transformer
2. A resistive load
3. A diode
A half wave rectifier circuit diagram looks like this:
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Our objective is to simulate the operation of a Half-Wave Rectifier circuit using the LTSPICE tool.

3.1 Connect in LTSPICE the circuit diagram of Half-Wave Rectifier in Figure 6.

The student or group may use another kind of rectifier diode for diode D1, another value of resistance
for resistor R1, and another voltage level for ac sine-wave voltage source V1. Take the photo of your
own circuit diagram drawn in LTSPICE, and place it in Figure 7.

Fig. 6. Half-Wave Rectifier (sample). Fig. 7. Connection of Half-Wave Rectifier.

3.2 Include a SPICE directive in your schematic diagram. In Figure 6, the directive is .TRAN 0.1. This
directive describes the transient simulation with a time stop of 0.1 second or 100 millisecond. The
resulting waveform in transient simulation is similar with the display of oscilloscope instrument,
wherein the x-axis is also time.
In Figure 6, the input V1 is a sine-wave voltage source with 0 V dc level, 10 V amplitude, and 60 Hertz
frequency. With a time stop of 100 ms and with 60 Hz sine wave input (16.67 ms period), the simulation
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

results displayed 6 cycles as shown in Figure 8. For your simulation, set the transient simulation to
display 3 complete cycles. Run your simulation, and show the waveforms of input voltage V1 and output
voltage across R1. Figure 8 shows the example of simulation waveforms for the half-wave rectifier circuit
in Figure 6. Now, take a photo of your own waveforms, and place it in Figure 9.

Fig. 8. Signals in HW Rectifier (sample). Fig. 9. Input and Output Voltages in HW Rectifier.
3.3 Based on the simulation results in Figure 9, determine the peak voltages of input voltage V1 and of
output voltage across resistor R1.

Vinput(max) = 10V. Voutput(max) = 8V.

Peak voltage is the highest point or highest value of voltage for any voltage waveform. It is

a power quality issue that occurs when devices that use Pulse Width Modulation, such as a
variable frequency drive, is added to a power system.

Briefly explain the discrepancy between the input voltage and output voltage.
The INPUT is what sort of electrical system you need to supply to the adapter (i.e. what your power
company supplies) while the OUTPUT is what is supplied to your device.

3.4 Based on the simulation results in Figure 9, determine the frequency of input voltage V1 and of
output voltage across resistor R1.

frequency(input) = 6. frequency(output) = 6.

HOW DO YOU FIND THE INPUT FREQUENCY?

The number of ticks of the Input Signal is then counted over the known period of time
provided by theInternal Signal. Dividing the number of ticks by the known measurement time
gives the frequency of the Input Signal.

3.5 Briefly explain the operation of Half-Wave Rectifier.

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The half-wave rectifier eliminates the negative half-cycle of the AC input and causes only positive
cycles to travel, producing a DC surge.

Part 4: Full-Wave Rectifier

Our objective is to simulate the operation of a Full-Wave Rectifier circuit using the LTSPICE tool.

4.1 Connect in LTSPICE the circuit of Full-Wave Rectifier in Figure 10. The student or group may use
another kind of rectifier diode for diodes D1, D2, D3, and D4, another value of resistance for resistor
R1, and another voltage level for ac sine-wave voltage source V1. Take the photo of your own circuit
diagram drawn in LTSPICE, and place it in Figure 11.

Fig. 10. Full-Wave Rectifier (sample). Fig. 11. Connection of Full-Wave Rectifier.

4.2 Include a SPICE directive in your schematic diagram. For your simulation, set the transient simulation
to display 4 complete cycles. Run your simulation, and show the following waveforms: current along
diode D1; current along current D2; current along diode D3; current along diode D4; input voltage
V1; and output voltage across resistor R1. Take a photo of your waveforms, and place it in Figure 12.

Fig. 12. Waveforms of Currents and Voltages in Full-Wave Rectifier.

4.3 Based on the simulation results in Figure 12, briefly describe which diodes turn on during the
positive half cycle of the input voltage and during the negative half-cycle of the input voltage.
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Diodes 1 and 2 were switched on during the positive half cycle while the diodes 3 and 4 were
switched on during the negative half cycle.

During the positive half cycle of the AC voltage, the diode will be forward biased and
the current flows through the diode. During the negative half cycle of the AC voltage,
the diode will be reverse biased and the flow of current will be blocked.

4.4 Based on the simulation results in Figure 12, determine the peak voltages of input voltage V1 and of
output voltage across resistor R1.

Vinput(max) = 10V. Voutput(max) = 0.66V.

Briefly explain the discrepancy between the input voltage and output voltage.
Input voltage is considerably greater than the output voltage precisely because the diodes have a
certain amount of voltage to function.
4.6 Based on the simulation results in Figure 12, determine the frequency of input voltage V1 and of
output voltage across resistor R1.

frequency(input) = 6. frequency(output) = 6.

4.7 Briefly explain the operation of Full-Wave Rectifier.

The full-wave rectifier helps to convert when both positive and the negative half of the input
waveform to a single polarity (positive or negative) at its output. Using both the half of the AC
waveform, full-wave rectification is more effective than half of the wave.

Theory

  A Full Wave Rectifier is a circuit, which converts an ac voltage into a pulsating dc voltage using both
half cycles of the applied ac voltage. It uses two diodes of which one conducts during one half cycle
while the other conducts during the other half cycle of the applied ac voltage.
  During the positive half cycle of the input voltage, diode D1 becomes forward biased and D2 becomes
reverse biased.Hence D1 conducts and D2 remains OFF. The load current flows through D1 and the
voltage drop across RL will be equal to the input voltage.
 
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  During the negative half cycle of the input voltage, diode D1 becomes reverse biased and D2 becomes
forward biased.Hence D1 remains OFF and D2 conducts. The load current flows through D2 and the
voltage drop across RL will be equal to the input voltage.

Please upload a picture or yourself beside the monitor containing your simulation results (see
sample image below)
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