Electronic Devices

Lecture 9
Zener Diode

Dr. Roaa Mubarak

Zener Diode
• As we said before the P-N junction diode has a breakdown region when it
reverse biased, In this case the current pass through diode is too high that
burn the diode.
 Avalanche Breakdown
• When diode is in a reverse-biased at certain voltage called Vz the depletion
region is falls down and an energy acquires from the applied potential to the free
carriers make this carriers collides with crystal ion and destroy the covalent bonds
and makes new electron-hole pair generated and this new carriers also pick up
sufficient energy from the applied voltage and collide with another crystal ion
and also break the covalent bond and also release another free electron and free
hole ….etc.

• This produce a huge no. of free carriers make a large current that burn the diode
and makes it breakdown.

• This cumulative process of producing free carriers called “Avalanche

multiplication” makes breakdown called “ Avalanche breakdown”.
• Zener diode is a special type of diode designed to reliably allow current
to flow "backwards" when a certain set reverse voltage, known as
the Zener voltage, is reached.
Models of Zener diode

• Ideal Zener diode model

• Practical Zener diode model
Ideal Zener diode model

𝑽𝒛 𝐼𝐷 > 0 + 𝑽𝑫
𝐼𝐷 = 0 + 𝑽𝑫 −
−

Regulator Reverse biased Forward biased

𝑉𝐷 = - 𝑉𝑧 𝑉𝐷 < 0 , 𝐼𝐷 = 0 𝑉𝐷 = 0 , 𝐼𝐷 > 0
Open Circuit Short Circuit
OFF ON
Example 1
Assume Zener diode Ideal Vz =30, find I in Zener diode ?
Solution: 2KΩ

50V > Vz = 30 So, Zener is a regulator.

50−30
I= = 10 𝑚𝐴 2KΩ 50V
2𝑘

50V 30V
Example 2
Assume Zener diode Ideal Vz =30V, Vs = 40-60V. Find Imax & Imin in Zener diode
Solution: 2KΩ
40-60 V > Vz = 30 So, Zener is a regulator.
40−30
Imin = = 5 𝑚𝐴 2KΩ 40-60V
2𝑘
Imin
40V 30V

60−30
Imax = = 15 𝑚𝐴 2KΩ
2𝑘 Imax
60V 30V
Practical Zener diode model

𝑉Ɣ 𝑅𝐹
𝑉𝑧 𝑟𝑧
Forward biased
𝐼𝐷 = 0 + 𝑽𝑫
Regulator −
𝑉Ɣ = 0.7v Si
𝑉𝑧 = DC value 𝑅𝐹 = 5 50Ω
𝑟𝑧 = 5 50Ω
Reverse biased
ON
𝑉𝐷 < 0 , 𝐼𝐷 = 0
Open Circuit
OFF
Example 3
For the following circuit Vz =30V, rz=20Ω, Vs > Vz, Imax =2mA & Imin =1mA in
Zener diode. Find Vo. 2KΩ

Solution: +

At Imin =1mA
Vo
Vo= 30 + 1mA(20) = 30.02V 2KΩ
+

30V -
At Imax =2mA Vo
20Ω
Vo= 30 + 2mA(20) = 30.04V
-