In electronics, a diode is a two-terminal electronic component with an asymmetric transfer characteristic, with low (ideally zero) resistance to current flow in one direction, and high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other.
The Shockley ideal diode equation or the diode law gives the I–V characteristic of an ideal diode in either forward or reverse bias (or no bias). The Shockley ideal diode equation equation is below, where n, the ideality factor, is equal to 1 :
Characteristics of a diode
If we apply voltage across the two terminals of the diode such that anode is more positive than cathode then diode will be operate in forward bias mode. In this mode after the applied voltage is greater than the diode forward voltage drop then diode will turned ON. After this a small increase in the input voltage causes a large change in the output current.
If we apply voltage across the two terminals of the diode such that cathode is more positive than anode then diode will be operate in reverse bias mode. In this mode till the applied reverse voltage is less than breakdown voltage then current will not change significantly for increasing reverse potential.
As soon as the applied voltage is equal to the breakdown voltage then a large amount of current will start flow through the diode. This will damage the diode.
Shockley diode equation
The Shockley ideal diode equation or the diode law gives the I–V characteristic of an ideal diode in either forward or reverse bias (or no bias). The Shockley ideal diode equation equation is below, where n, the ideality factor, is equal to 1 :
