Different Types of Diode: Summary

- a summary of the different types of diodes used in electronics with links to

further in-depth pages on individual diode types with circuit design details.
In this section

PN junction diode

Diode types overview

Diode specifications

Gunn diode

IMPATT diode

Laser diode

Photo diode

PIN diode

Schottky barrier diode

Step recovery diode

Tunnel diode

Varactor diode

Zener diode

Light emitting diode, LED

There are many different types of diodes that are available for use in electronics design.
Different semiconductor diode types can be used to perform different functions as a result of
the properties of these different diode types.
Semiconductor diodes can be used for many applications. The basic application is obviously
to rectify waveforms. This can be used within power supplies or within radio detectors.
Signal diodes can also be used for many other functions within circuits where the "one way"
effect of a diode may be required.

Leaded Semiconductor Diodes

Diodes are not just used as rectifiers, as various other types of diode can be used in many
other applications. Some other different types of diodes include: light emitting diodes, photodiodes, laser diodes and more as detailed in the list below.
Many of the different types of diodes mentioned below have further pages providing in-depth
information about them including their structures, method of operation, how they may be
used in circuits, and precautions and tips for using them in electronics design.

SMT Diodes on a PCB

Types of diodes
It is sometimes useful to summarise the different types of diode that are available. Some of
the categories may overlap, but the various definitions may help to narrow the field down and
provide an overview of the different diode types that are available.

Backward diode: This type of diode is sometimes also called the back diode.
Although not widely used, it is a form of PN junction diode that is very similar to the
tunnel diode in its operation. It finds a few specialist applications where its particular
properties can be used. Read more about the Backward diode

BARITT diode: This form of diode gains its name from the words Barrier Injection
Transit Time diode. It is used in microwave applications and bears many similarities
to the more widely used IMPATT diode. Read more about the Baritt diode

Gunn Diode: Although not a diode in the form of a PN junction, this type of diode is
a semiconductor device that has two terminals. It is generally used for generating
microwave signals. Read more about the Gunn diode

Laser diode: This type of diode is not the same as the ordinary light emitting diode
because it produces coherent light. Laser diodes are widely used in many applications
from DVD and CD drives to laser light pointers for presentations. Although laser
diodes are much cheaper than other forms of laser generator, they are considerably
more expensive than LEDs. They also have a limited life. Read more about the laser
diode

Light emitting diodes: The light emitting diode or LED is one of the most popular
types of diode. When forward biased with current flowing through the junction, light
is produced. The diodes use component semiconductors, and can produce a variety of
colours, although the original colour was red. There are also very many new LED
developments that are changing the way displays can be used and manufactured. High
output LEDs and OLEDs are two examples. Read more about the light emitting
diode

Photodiode: The photo-diode is used for detecting light. It is found that when light
strikes a PN junction it can create electrons and holes. Typically photo-diodes are
operated under reverse bias conditions where even small amounts of current flow
resulting from the light can be easily detected. Photo-diodes can also be used to
generate electricity. For some applications, PIN diodes work very well as
photodetectors. Read more about the photo-diode

PIN diode: This type of diode is typified by its construction. It has the standard P
type and N-type areas, but between them there is an area of Intrinsic semiconductor
which has no doping. The area of the intrinsic semiconductor has the effect of
increasing the area of the depletion region which can be useful for switching
applications as well as for use in photodiodes, etc. Read more about the PIN diode

PN Junction: The standard PN junction may be thought of as the normal or standard

type of diode in use today. These diodes can come as small signal types for use in
radio frequency, or other low current applications which may be termed as signal
diodes. Other types may be intended for high current and high voltage applications
and are normally termed rectifier diodes. Read more about the diode

Schottky diodes: This type of diode has a lower forward voltage drop than ordinary
silicon PN junction diodes. At low currents the drop may be somewhere between 0.15
and 0.4 volts as opposed to 0.6 volts for a silicon diode. To achieve this performance
they are constructed in a different way to normal diodes having a metal to
semiconductor contact. They are widely used as clamping diodes, in RF applications,
and also for rectifier applications. Read more about the Schottky diode

Step recovery diode: A form of microwave diode used for generating and shaping
pulses at very high frequencies. These diodes rely on a very fast turn off characteristic
of the diode for their operation. Read more about the Step recovery diode

Tunnel diode: Although not widely used today, the tunnel diode was used for
microwave applications where its performance exceeded that of other devices of the
day. Read more about the Tunnel diode

Varactor diode or varicap diode: This type of diode is used in many radio frequency
(RF) applications. The diode has a reverse bias placed upon it and this varies the
width of the depletion layer according to the voltage placed across the diode. In this
configuration the varactor or varicap diode acts like a capacitor with the depletion
region being the insulating dielectric and the capacitor plates formed by the extent of
the conduction regions. The capacitance can be varied by changing the bias on the
diode as this will vary the width of the depletion region which will accordingly
change the capacitance. Read more about the varactor diode

Zener diode: The Zener diode is a very useful type of diode as it provides a stable
reference voltage. As a result it is used in vast quantities. It is run under reverse bias
conditions and it is found that when a certain voltage is reached it breaks down. If the
current is limited through a resistor, it enables a stable voltage to be produced. This
type of diode is therefore widely used to provide a reference voltage in power
supplies. Two types of reverse breakdown are apparent in these diodes: Zener
breakdown and Impact Ionisation. However the name Zener diode is used for the
reference diodes regardless of the form of breakdown that is employed. Read more
about the Zener / voltage reference diode

Semiconductor diodes are widely used throughout all areas of the electronics industry from
electronics design through to production and repair. The semiconductor diode is very
versatile, and there are very many variants and different types of diode that enable all the
variety of different applications to be met.
The different diode types of types of diodes include those for small signal applications, high
current and voltage as well as different types of diodes for light emission and detection as
well as types for low forward voltage drops, and types to give variable capacitance. In
addition to this there are a number of diode types that are used for microwave applications.
However, if one is interested in some particular current level, it will require a
"knee" voltage before that current level is reached. For example, a very common
choice in texts about circuits using silicon diodes is V Knee = 0.7 V. Above the
knee, the current continues to increase exponentially.

Forward bias operation

The P-N junction supports uni-directional current flow. If +ve terminal of the input supply is
connected to anode (P-side) and ve terminal of the input supply is connected the cathode.
Then diode is said to be forward biased. In this condition the height of the potential barrier at
the junction is lowered by an amount equal to given forward biasing voltage. Both the holes
from p-side and electrons from n-side cross the junction simultaneously and constitute a
forward current from n-side cross the junction simultaneously and constitute a forward
current (injected minority current due to holes crossing the junction and entering P- side of
the diode). Assuming current flowing through the diode to be very large, the diode can be
approximated as short- circuited switch.

Reverse bias operation

If negative terminal of the input supply is connected to anode (p-side) and ve terminal of the
input supply is connected to cathode (n-side) then the diode is said to be reverse biased. In
this condition an amount equal to reverse biasing voltage increases the height of the potential
barrier at the junction. Both the holes on P-side and electrons on N-side tend to move away
from the junction there by increasing the depleted region. However the process cannot
continue indefinitely, thus a small current called reverse saturation current continues to flow
in the diode. This current is negligible; the diode can be approximated as an open circuited
switch.
The peak inverse voltage is either the specified maximum voltage that a diode
rectifier can block, or, alternatively, the maximum that a rectifier needs to block
in a given application. a general term applied to semiconductor diodes, peak
reverse voltage or peak inverse voltage is the maximum voltage that a
diode can withstand in the reverse direction without breaking down or
avalanching.[1][2] If this voltage is exceeded the diode may be destroyed. Diodes
must have a peak inverse voltage rating that is higher than the maximum
voltage that will be applied to them in a given application.