In which area do Zener diodes generally work?

In which area do Zener diodes generally work?

      Zener diodes generally work in the reverse breakdown region.

Zener diode refers to the phenomenon that the current of the pn junction can be changed in a wide range while the voltage is basically unchanged in the reverse breakdown state of the pn junction, and the diode is made to stabilize the voltage.

The forward characteristic of the volt-ampere characteristic curve of a Zener diodes is similar to that of an ordinary diode. The reverse characteristic is that when the reverse voltage is lower than the reverse breakdown voltage, the reverse resistance is very large and the reverse leakage current is extremely small. However, when the reverse voltage is close to the critical value of the reverse voltage, the reverse current suddenly increases, which is called breakdown. At this critical breakdown point, the reverse resistance suddenly drops to a small value. Although the current changes in a large range, the voltage across the diode is basically stable near the breakdown voltage, thereby realizing the voltage stabilizing function of the diode.