Name: Multimeter and Its Uses
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 6 min 24 s
Description: Multimeter is a measuring instrument that can measure various electrical properties. In this video, we will learn about multimeters, their types and their uses.

Question

Explain the formation of depletion region and potential barrier in a $p$ - $n$ junction diode. State how the thickness of depletion region changes when the $p$ - $n$ junction diode is reverse biased.

Accepted Answer

A region in a semiconductor device, usually at the juncture of P-type and N-type materials, in which there is neither an excess of electrons nor of holes. Large depletion regions inhibit current flow.

The depletion region is caused by the diffusion of charges. Because of the concentration gradient holes diffuse from p-side to the n-side across the junction while electrons diffuse from the n-side to the p-side. The holes and the electrons diffusing towards each other combine near the junction. In doing so positive and negative ions are formed. The pair of positive and negative ions at the junction forms the dipole. The region containing the dipoles and completely depleted of mobile charge carriers is called the depletion region.

When the diode is reversed biased,i.e. a positive terminal is connected, the junction width, or the width of the depletion layer is increased. This happens because when we apply reverse bias voltage the electrons are drifted away from the junction and hence, conduction is not possible. So, the width of the depletion region in a P-N junction diode is increased by reverse bias.

Explain the formation of depletion region and potential barrier in a $p$ - $n$ junction diode. State how the thickness of depletion region changes when the $p$ - $n$ junction diode is reverse biased.

Important Questions on Junction Diodes

Learn and Prepare for any exam you want !

Explain the formation of depletion region and potential barrier in a p-n junction diode. State how the thickness of depletion region changes when the p-n junction diode is reverse biased.

Important Questions on Junction Diodes

Learn and Prepare for any exam you want !

Explain the formation of depletion region and potential barrier in a $p$ - $n$ junction diode. State how the thickness of depletion region changes when the $p$ - $n$ junction diode is reverse biased.