Shockley Diode law, Breakdown,

Zener effect, Avalanche Effect

Santosh Aryal
076BCE153
 Objectives
• Introduction to Shockley Diode Law
• Introduction to Linear Circuit
• Introduction to Breakdown
• Introduction to Zener Effect
• Mechanism of Zener Effect
• Introduction to Avalanche Effect
• Mechanism of Avalanche Effect
• Difference between Zener Effect and Avalanche Effect
 Non- Linear Circuit
• A nonlinear circuit is an electric circuit • Examples of Non Linear Elements
whose parameters are varied with respect
to Current and Voltage.
1. Diode
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• In other words, an electric circuit in which 2. Transistor
circuit parameters (Resistance, inductance, 3. Transformer
capacitance, waveform, frequency etc ) is
not constant, is called Non Linear Circuit.
4. Iron Core
• In general, passive components are purely 5. Inductor (when the core is saturated)
linear , while active components are all
nonlinear.
 Shockley Diode Law
• The Shockley diode equation is name after William Shockley (Co-inventor of
transistor).
• This law is also known as Diode Current equation.
• It expresses the relationship between the current flowing through the diode
as a function of the voltage applied across it.
• This equation applies equally for forward (conducting) bias as well as reverse
(blocking) bias.
 Mathematical Expression
• Where,
• I is the diode current,
• Is is the reverse bias saturation current,
• VD is the voltage across the diode,
• VT is the thermal voltage which is
kT/q (Boltzmann constant times temperature
divided by electron charge)
• n is the emission coefficient.
• The thermal voltage VT is approximately 25.85
mV at 300 K
• For even small forward bias voltages the
exponential is very large, since the thermal
voltage is very small in comparison. The
subtracted '1' in the diode equation is then
negligible and the forward diode current can
be approximated by:
• This shows that semiconductor diodes all
exhibit an exponential relationship between
device current and applied voltage.
 Electrical Breakdown
• Electric Breakdown is the process by which a depletion region at the p-n
junction is destroyed and allows a large reverse current.
• Electric breakdown of semiconductors occurs by two processes. They are:
• Zener Breakdown
• Avalanche Breakdown
 Zener Effect
• Zener effect is a type of electrical breakdown.
• It was discovered by Clarence Melvin Zener.
• It occurs in a reverse biased p-n diode when the electric field enables tunneling
of electrons from the valence to the conduction band of a semiconductor, leading
to numerous free minority carriers which suddenly increase the reverse current.
• Zener breakdown phenomena occurs in a pn junction diode with heavy doping &
thin junction (means depletion layer width is very small).
• Zener breakdown does not result in damage of diode. Since current is only due to
drifting of electrons, but there is a limit to the increase in current .
 Mechanism of Zener Effect
• Under a high reverse-bias voltage, the p-n
junction's depletion region widens which leads
to a high-strength electric field across the
junction. This force (caused due to electric
field) frees electrons from its covalent bond and
moves those free electrons to conduction band.
When the electric field increases (with applied
voltage), more and more electrons are freed
from its covalent bonds. This sudden generation
of carriers rapidly increases the reverse current
and gives rise to the high slope conductance of
the Zener diode.
• This effect is the key principle of Zener Diode
as a Voltage Regulator.
 Avalanche Effect
• Avalanche breakdown occurs in a pn junction diode which is moderately
doped and has a thick junction (means its depletion layer width is high).
• Avalanche breakdown usually occurs when we apply a high reverse
voltage across the diode ( higher than the zener breakdown voltage).
• So, as the applied reverse voltage is increased, the electric field across
junction will keep increasing.
 Mechanism of Avalanche Effect
• As the applied reverse voltage is increased,
the generated electric field exerts a force on
the electrons at junction and frees them
from covalent bonds. These free electrons
will gain acceleration and it will start
moving across the junction with high
velocity. This results in collision with other
neighboring atoms. These collisions in high
velocity will generate further free electrons.
These electrons will start drifting and
electron-hole pair recombination occurs
across the junction. This results in net
current that rapidly increases.
The Difference between Zener and Avalanche Effect is as follow:

Zener Breakdown Avalanche Breakdown

The process in which the electrons move across the barrier The process of applying high voltage and increasing the free
from the valence band of p-type material to the conduction electrons or electric current in semiconductors and
band of n-type material is known as Zener breakdown. insulating materials is called an avalanche breakdown.
This is observed in Zener diodes having a Zener breakdown This is observed in Zener diode having a Zener breakdown
voltage Vz of 5 to 8 volts. voltage Vz greater than 8 volts.
The valence electrons are pulled into conduction due to the The valence electrons are pushed to conduction due to the
high electric field in the narrow depletion region. energy imparted by accelerated electrons, which gain their
velocity due to their collision with other atoms.
The increase in temperature decreases the breakdown The increase in temperature increases the breakdown
voltage. voltage.
The VI characteristics of a Zener breakdown has a sharp The VI characteristic curve of the avalanche breakdown is
curve. not as sharp as the Zener breakdown.
It occurs in diodes that are highly doped. It occurs in diodes that are lightly doped.
 References
1. https://www.circuitstoday.com/pn-junction-breakdown-characteristics
2. https://byjus.com/physics/difference-between-zener-breakdown-and-avalanche-breakdown/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shockley_diode_equation
4. https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/semiconductors/chpt-7/shockley-diode/
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/shockley-equation
6. https://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/pn-junctions/diode-equation
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_effect
8. https://circuitglobe.com/difference-between-avalanche-and-zener-breakdown.html
9. https://www.britannica.com/science/avalanche-effect