diode

A diode is an electronic component that allows electric current to flow in only one direction. It is a semiconductor device that contains two electrode terminals - an anode and a cathode.

The diode works based on the p-n junction effect between two different types of semiconductors, most often silicon or germanium. On one side of the diode there is a p-zone (positively doped) and on the other side an n-zone (negatively doped). This transition between the p-zone and the n-zone allows current to flow in only one direction - from the anode to the cathode.

Diodes have several important properties:

Directional Conductive Behavior: A diode allows current to flow only in the direction from the anode to the cathode (direction of passage). In the opposite direction (prohibition direction), the diode behaves as an insulator and practically no current flows.

Threshold Voltage: A certain voltage known as the threshold voltage (Uf) must be crossed when the diode is forward biased for the diode to become conductive. This means that the diode will not release current until the voltage exceeds this critical value.

Fast turn-on and turn-off times: Diodes have the ability to quickly switch between conducting and insulating states, allowing them to be used in a variety of electronic circuits and applications.

Diodes come in a variety of types and configurations, including one-way diodes (such as ordinary diodes), zener diodes, schottky diodes, LEDs, and more. Each type of diode has its specific properties and use in various electronic circuits. Diodes are used in many applications, including power supplies, rectifiers, protection circuits, communication systems, and many others.