Circuitry is required for the operation of electrical gadgets in your home. These electronic circuits are constructed in such a manner that current flows in the proper path for each of their functions. Due to the various functions that electricity performs, regulating the passage of power could be difficult. This is the place diodes then come into play. In this article, we would be discussing how zener diodes are different from other diode types.

Diode

Two levels of semiconductor substance, a P-type layer and an N-type layer, are joined to produce a diode. PN Junction is the name given to the connection made by combining these strata. Since holes make up a large portion of charge transfer in a P-type layer, it is known as a positive layer. Since electrons are the predominant transporters in the N-type layer, it could as well be regarded as a Negative type layer.

Whenever a diode is forward biased, it doesn't begin conducting immediately; instead, it begins to conduct once a certain forward voltage has been reached. This forward voltage is referred to as the diode's knee voltage. Knee voltage varies depending on the semiconductor substrate; it is 0.3V for germanium and 0.7V for silicon.

The depletion zone expands whenever the diode is reverse biased. The depletion region's thickness, on the other hand, diminishes as the forward bias voltage rises. As a result, in a reversed biased condition, the depletion zone prevents current from flowing through it.

The minority carriers, on the other hand, could travel in reversed biased mode and generate a modest electricity in the diode. It depends on temperature; suppose that somehow the reverse voltage surpasses a certain amount, the temperature rises, and the minority carriers expand rapidly, causing the diode to burst.

As a result, it's suggested that a standard PN junction diode be utilized exclusively in forward biased mode.

Zener Diode

Diodes are utilized to permit the flow of current unidirectionally via a circuit. Zener diodes working on the other hand differs from other diode types wherein whenever they are connected in a reverse path in a circuit, in a way that the charge travels via another route in a diode, they allow a little leakage of electric charge flow. This kind of charge travels to the earth to stop it from having an effect on other areas of the circuit and also stopping the diode from destroying itself.

You could begin a conversion between AC and DC by utilizing diodes like Zener diode. Alternating current undergoes alterations between travelling unidirectionally as well as in the other direction while direct current only travels unidirectionally. Majority of those electrical setups feature bridge rectifiers or rectifier diodes.

AC current could be converted to DC current with the aid of rectifiers only if they permit the unidirectional flow of either positive or negative current via it or by the conversion of AC current cycle from one path and through the other. Rectifiers permit the conversion of DC power supplies which carry current across lengthy paths to the alternating current power that’s discovered in the majority of household equipment.

Major Distinctions Between Diode and Zener Diode

• The electric charge’s path which the gadget permits makes a huge distinction between a diode and a zener diode. A diode conducts in one direction while a zener diode conducts two directions in forward biased and also in reverse biased.
• The doping attributes of a diode and a zener diode vary from one another. The zener diode is a highly doped diode, as it’s also utilized in reverse bias conditions, while the conventional diode is not highly doped as it allows current only in forward breakdown condition.
• A zener diode’s breakdown voltage is relatively lower than that of a conventional diode whose breakdown voltage is relatively higher.
• The conventional diode is incapable of operating in a reversed biased mode whilst a zener diode is capable of operating in a reversed biased mode.
• A zener diode’s normally utilized as a voltage controller while a conventional diode is utilized in the clipper, rectifier, clamper, etc.

A conventional diode normally follows Ohm's law whereas the Zener diode does not follow Ohm's law. According to Ohm's law, whatever voltage is applied across the diode is equivalent to the resistance and current that gets enforced across the diodes.

Conclusion

Electrical devices rely on diodes, which are a modest but vital component. It was invented as just a vacuum tube in the early 1900s. Ever since, it has evolved into the thing we use today. Diodes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are utilized for a variety of reasons. The PN junction diode and the Zener diode are two distinct diodes.

A PN junction diode is a regular diode which could solely be utilized in forward bias conditions. It is composed of silicon and germanium, which are semiconductors. It's utilized in voltage rectifiers, switchers, and other applications. The Zener diode, on the other hand, is a unique diode that's utilized in reverse bias circumstances. Voltage stabilizers are made of it.