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.

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
Rectifier semiconduc https://electronicsclub.info/diodes.htm
Diode tor diode
designed
for
rectifying
alternating
current
(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
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

semiconduc
tor device
that
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
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
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

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
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
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

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
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
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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

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
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.)
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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-
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.)
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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
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.

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
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.

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SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

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

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.

3.5 Briefly explain the operation of Half-Wave Rectifier.

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.
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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.
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.

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.

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