The working principle of the rectifier diode

The working principle of the rectifier diode

A rectifier diode is a semiconductor device used to convert alternating current into direct current. An important characteristic of a diode is its one-way conductivity. In a circuit, current can only flow in from the positive terminal of the diode and out of the negative electrode. Usually it contains a PN junction with two terminals, positive and negative.

    The carriers in the P region are holes, and the carriers in the N region are electrons, forming a certain barrier between the P and N regions. When the applied voltage makes the P region positive relative to the N region, the bit barrier is lowered, and storage carriers are generated near both sides of the barrier, which can pass a large current and have a low voltage drop (typical value of 0.7V), which is called the forward state.

    If the opposite voltage is added, the bit barrier is increased, and a high reverse voltage can be withstood and a small reverse current (called reverse leakage current) is flowed, which is called the reverse blocking state.rectifier diode