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The p-region of a diode contains an abundance of holes, but also contains a small percentage of electrons. Similarly, the n-region also contains a small percentage of holes. These are knows as the minority carriers. Again, like charges repel, so when the diode is reverse biased, these minority carriers will migrate toward the boundary region.

The minority carriers will recombine at the boundary region, and thus enable an electric current. Because these carriers are few in number (orders of magnitude less than the majority carriers), this current is very small. This represents the leakage current of a diode.

The mobility of minority carriers increases with temperature, and heating a diode will cause greater numbers of minority carriers to congregate at the boundary region. This will increase leakage current.

Surface contamination on the diode may also allow small amounts of electricity to be conducted, again causing leakage.

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Q: Leakage current in diode is due to?
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What is the leakage current of zener diode?

The leakage current of a (zener) diode is the current that leaks when a diode is connected in reverse biased.


Voltage of a diode at which current increases?

In a Silcon diode no current flows in the forward direction (anode to positive voltage) until approximately 0.6 - 0.7Volts is reached. Above this voltage the current rises in line with Ohms Law. In the reverse direction only micro Amps flow (leakage current) In a Germanium diode the threshold is about 0.2 volts and reverse leakage is higher.


What is the source of leakage current in a transistor?

The current of the minority charges (collector region) is the source of the leakage current. At higher temperature, this leakage current increases due to increase in thermal energy.


Why diode conducts current in forward bias but does not conduct in reversed bias?

diode current flows only when the diode is forward biased because in reverse bias the barrier potential increases. Diode can conduct in reverse bias if applied votage is high enough to overcome the reverse bias barrier potential but it can be destructive.


Describe forward-biased diode?

A specific amount of current is allowed to flow through a diode. If the current passing through the diode exceeds this specific value, the diode gets heated and is likely to be damaged. Therefore, in the biasing circuit of a resistance which limits the current passing through the diode within its specific value is called Forward biased diode. ANSWER: A forward bias diode is just a diode that it is conducting in the forward direction. Positive to anode and negative to cathode

Related questions

What is the leakage current of zener diode?

The leakage current of a (zener) diode is the current that leaks when a diode is connected in reverse biased.


What is leakage current of zener diode?

The leakage current of a (zener) diode is the current that leaks when a diode is connected in reverse biased.


Which current is the leakage current that flows through a photo diode with no input in a light detector?

leakage current itself


What happens to leakage current of the diode when temperature changes?

The reverse-biased leakage of a diode is due to to two things. One, a physical property of the diode known as free-carrier recombination. The electrons and positrons which exist near the p-n boundary are constantly re-combining. This creates a fixed current known as the saturation current. If the diode is reverse biased, then the saturation current flows in the external circuit. Two, contamination in the diode causes a current which is like a resistor connected in parallel with the diode. A good rule of thumb is that the total reverse-biased diode leakage current (One + Two) will double every 10 degrees C. For the very best diodes, with tiny leakages, search for the forum comments of Dr. Winfield Hill on the topic of very clean diodes with ultra-low leakage.


Voltage of a diode at which current increases?

In a Silcon diode no current flows in the forward direction (anode to positive voltage) until approximately 0.6 - 0.7Volts is reached. Above this voltage the current rises in line with Ohms Law. In the reverse direction only micro Amps flow (leakage current) In a Germanium diode the threshold is about 0.2 volts and reverse leakage is higher.


What is the source of leakage current in a transistor?

The current of the minority charges (collector region) is the source of the leakage current. At higher temperature, this leakage current increases due to increase in thermal energy.


Does diode flow current in reverse bias?

Diodes will have a small leakage current in reverse bias. In most cases, this current can be considered insignificant and ignored.


The leakage current of a conventional semiconductor diode is caused by?

it's caused by dopping impurity from naeem iqbal zulfiqari


Why diode conducts current in forward bias but does not conduct in reversed bias?

diode current flows only when the diode is forward biased because in reverse bias the barrier potential increases. Diode can conduct in reverse bias if applied votage is high enough to overcome the reverse bias barrier potential but it can be destructive.


How does a diode shorted?

due to high voltage across the diode ie more than piv of the diode or current flows more than maximum allowed range of diode.


What will be the result if silicon diode is replaced by the germinium diode?

The built is voltage would be lower than silicon diode,more leakage or reverse saturation current,poor thermal stability,high noise and greater conduction in comparison to silicon diodes.


Is led a voltage controller or current controller?

An LED is a diode that emits light; diodes allow current to flow only one direction. The voltage applied to the diode attempts to force current to flow in a specific direction. If the voltage polarity is reversed, and current was flowing before (so there was a small voltage drop across the diode), current will cease to flow (assuming the voltage is not too high for the diode to handle), and (almost) all the voltage will be dropped across the diode (a small leakage current may flow, which means some of the voltage will not be dropped across the diode, but this is in the milli or micro range). I would never define a diode as a "voltage controller" or "current controller". It could be either or both, from the above description.