Zener diode
Last updated
Last updated
Zener-diode
a form of semiconductor diode in which at a critical reverse voltage a large reverse current can flow.
Zener diodes are made to conduct under reversed bias. Zener diodes are fabricated to work in the breakdown region under a special tunneling breakdown called Zener breakdown. This breakdown occurs at a specifically defined value of voltage, as this breakdown voltage is maintained as the reverse current increases, this diode can be used as a voltage reference. The breakdown voltage is kept constant even if the cur- rent changes without damaging the diode.
The main property of a zener diode is that the voltage across the diode () will remain practically steady for a wide range of current () when the diode is operated in reverse bias mode: