Draw and explain the v-i characteristics of a p-n junction?

Answer 1

As you can't draw here, see link.

• In the forward bias voltage direction (right side) current slowly rises until the knee is at 0.7V in silicon diodes (0.2V in germanium diodes), then current rapidly rises. The forward biased V:I curve closely approximates an exponential function.
• In the reverse bias voltage direction (left side) current stays constant at near zero, until the breakdown voltage is reached then jumps to a high value.