Zener Diode

Dr. Pravin Prajapati

 Outlines

 Introduction of Zener Diode

 Construction of Zener Diode

 Working of Zener Diode

 Application of Zener Diode

 Numerical of Zener Diode

 Introduction
The zener diode is a silicon pn junction devices that differs from rectifier
diodes because it is designed for operation in the reverse-breakdown
region. The breakdown voltage of a zener diode is set by carefully
controlling the level during manufacture. The basic function of zener
diode is to maintain a specific voltage across it’s terminals within given
limits of line or load change. Typically it is used for providing a stable
reference voltage for use in power supplies and other equipment.
 Construction of Zener
Zener diodes are designed to operate in reverse breakdown. Two types of reverse breakdown
in a zener diode are avalanche and zener. The avalanche break down occurs in both rectifier
and zener diodes at a sufficiently high reverse voltage. Zener breakdown occurs in a zener
diode at low reverse voltages.
A zener diode is heavily doped to reduced the breakdown voltage. This
causes a very thin depletion region.
The zener diodes breakdown characteristics are determined by the
doping process
Zeners are commercially available with voltage breakdowns of 1.8 V to 200
V.
 Working of Zener
A zener diode is much like a normal diode. The exception being is that it
is placed in the circuit in reverse bias and operates in reverse breakdown.
This typical characteristic curve illustrates the operating range for a zener.
Note that it’s forward characteristics are just like a normal diode.
 Breakdown Characteristics
Figure shows the reverse portion of a zener diode’s characteristic
curve. As the reverse voltage (VR) is increased, the reverse current (IR)
remains extremely small up to the “knee” of the curve. The reverse
current is also called the zener current, IZ. At this point, the breakdown
effect begins; the internal zener resistance, also called zener impedance
(ZZ), begins to decrease as reverse current increases rapidly.
 ZENER BREAKDOWN

• Zener and avalanche effects are responsible

for such a dramatic increase in the value of
current at the breakdown voltage.

• If the impurity concentration is very high, then

the width of depletion region is very less.
Less width of depletion region will cause high
intensity of electric field to develop in the
depletion region at low voltages.
• Lets take an example to understand things
clearly.

• Let say the width of depletion region

is 200 Å (very small). If a reverse
bias voltage of just 4 V is applied to
the diode, then the electric field
intensity in the depletion region will
be
4 = 2 x 108 V/m
200 x 10-10
• Merely a voltage of 4 V is responsible to generate
.

an electric field intensity of 2 x 108 V/m (very high

intensity).
• This electric field is sufficient to rupture the bonds
and separate the valence electrons from their
respective nuclei.
• Large number of electrons gets separated from
their atoms, resulting in sudden increase in the
value of reverse current.
• This explanation was given by scientist C. E.
Zener. Such diodes are called Zener diodes.
• Zener effect predominates in diodes whose
breakdown voltage is below 6 V.
 AVALANCHE BEAKDOWN

• Zener effect predominates on diodes whose

breakdown voltage is below 6 V. The breakdown
voltage can be obtained at a large value by reducing
the concentration of impurity atom.

• We know that very little amount of current flows in

the reverse biased diode. This current is due to the
flow of minority charge carriers i.e., electrons in the
p type semiconductor and holes in the n type
semiconductor.
• The width of depletion region is large when the
impurity concentration is less.
.

• When a reverse bias voltage is applied across the

terminals of the diode, the electrons from the p type
material and holes from the n-type materials
accelerates through the depletion region.
• This results in collision of intrinsic particles
(electrons and holes) with the bound electrons in the
depletion region. With the increase in reverse bias
voltage the acceleration of electrons and holes also
increases.
• Now the intrinsic particles collides with bound
electrons with enough energy to break its covalent
bond and create an electron-hole pair. This is shown
in the figure.
Avalanche Breakdown
Mechanism
• The collision of electrons with the atom creates an
electron-hole pair.
.

• This newly created electron also gets accelerated

due to electric field and breaks many more
covalent bond to further create more electron-hole
pair.
• This process keeps on repeating and it is
called carrier multiplication.
• The newly created electrons and holes contribute
to the rise in reverse current.
• The process of carrier multiplication occurs very
quickly and in very large numbers that there is
apparently an avalanche of charge carriers.
Thus the breakdown is called avalanche
breakdown.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZENER
AND AVALANCHE BREAKDOWN
Zener Breakdown Avalanche breakdown
1. This occurs at junctions which being 1. This occurs at junctions which
heavily doped have narrow depletion being lightly doped have wide depletion layers.
layers
2. This breakdown voltage sets a 2.Here electric field is not strong
very strong electric field across enough to produce Zener breakdown.
this narrow layer.
3.Her minority carriers collide with semi
3.Here electric field is very strong conductor atoms in the depletion region, which
to rupture the covalent bonds breaks the covalent bonds and electron-hole
pairs are generated. Newly generated charge
thereby generating electron-hole
carriers are accelerated by the electric field
pairs. So even a small increase in which results in more collision and generates
reverse voltage is capable of producing avalanche of charge carriers. This results in
Large number of current carriers. avalanche breakdown.

4.Zener diode exhibits negative temp: 4.Avalanche diodes exhibits positive temp:
coefficient. Ie. breakdown voltage coefficient. i.e breakdown voltage increases
with increase in temperature.
decreases as temperature increases.
Ideal Model & Ideal Characteristic Curve of Zener Diode
Practical Model & Ideal Characteristic
Curve of Zener Diode
 Zener Diode Applications –
Zener Regulation with a Varying Input Voltage

In a DC circuit, Zener diode can be used as a voltage

regulator to regulate the voltage across small
circuits.
The function of the regulator is to
provide constant output voltage.
Zener diode will continue to
regulate the voltage until the diodes
current falls below the minimum Iz
value in the reverse breakdown
region.
 Zener Limiting
Zener diodes can used in ac applications to limit voltage swings to
desired levels.

VZ: zener voltage

Vd: Diode voltage
Vd = 0.7
Numerical of Zener Diode
A zener diode exhibits a certain change in V z for a certain change in lz
on a portion of the linear characteristic curve between IZK and IZM as
illustrated in Figure. What is the zener
impedance?
 Temperature Coefficient
The temperature coefficient specifies the percent change in
zener
• voltage for each degree centigrade change in
temperature.

• example, a 12 V zener diode with a positive temperature

For
coefficient of 0.01% /OC will exhibit a 1.2 mV increase in Vz
when the junction temperature increases one degree
centigrade.
• formula for calculating the change in zener voltage for a
The
given junction temperature change, for a specified temperature
coefficient, is

Where Vz is nominal zener voltage at 250C. When temp.

coefficient is expressed in mV/0C
 Example
• A 5.0V stabilised power supply is
required to be produced from
a 12V DC power supply input
source.
The maximum power rating Pz of
the zener diode is 2W.
Using the zener regulator circuit
calculate:
a) The maximum current flowing
through the zener diode.
b) The value of the series
resistor, Rs
c) The load current IL if a load
resistor of 1kΩ is connected
across the Zener diode.
d) The total supply current Is
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)
 Zener Diode Voltages
• As well as producing a single stabilised voltage
output, zener diodes can also be connected together
in series along with normal silicon signal diodes to
produce a variety of different reference voltage output
values

• The values of the individual Zener diodes can be

chosen to suit the application while the silicon diode
will always drop about 0.6 - 0.7V in the forward bias
condition.

• The supply voltage, Vin must of course be higher than

the largest output reference voltage
 Summary
A zener diode is always operated in its reverse biased
condition.

A voltage regulator circuit can be designed using a zener

diode to maintain a constant DC output voltage across the
load in spite of variations in the input voltage or changes in the
load current.

The zener voltage regulator consists of a current limiting

resistor Rs connected in series with the input voltage Vs with
the zener diode connected in parallel with the load RL in this
reverse biased condition.

The stabilized output voltage is always selected to be the

same as the breakdown voltage Vz of the diode.
Thank you

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