AIM:

To study the V-I characteristics of Zener diode and find the zener break down voltage.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Zener diode kit with milli-ammeter, micro-ammeter, voltmeter, 5-volt battery and connecting
wires.

THEORY:
Zener diode is a reverse biased heavily doped P-N junction diode which is operated in the
breakdown region. Zener breakdown occurs due to breaking of covalent bonds by the electric field
set up in the depletion region by the reverse voltage. It produces an extremely large number of
electrons and holes which constitute the reverse saturation current (Zener current Is) whose value is
limited only by the external resistance in the circuit.

Forward Bias:
If a battery is connected at the terminals of Zener diode such that the positive terminal of the
battery is connected to the P and negative terminal of the battery is connected to N, it is said to be
forward bias. The holes of P region are repelled by the positive electrode and move towards the
junction and similarly the electrons of N region are repelled by the negative electrode and move
towards the junction. Thus electric conduction takes place at the junction. As the potential difference
across the diode increases, the current in the circuit increases.

Reverse bias:
But if positive terminal of the battery is connected to N and negative terminal of the battery is
connected to P, it is said to be in reverse bias. The holes of the P region moves away from the
junction and similarly the electrons of N region moves away from the junction. Thus no current
flows in the reverse bias due to majority charge carriers. But the minority charge carriers electrons in
P region and holes in N region move towards the junction due to which very feeble current flows.
On increasing the reverse voltage, a stage is reached when the current suddenly increases. This
potential is called breakdown voltage. The reason is that when the reverse electric field at the
junction increases, the covalent bonds break and a large amount of charge carriers are produced.
This action is called zener breakdown.

Symbol of zener diode:

 Diagram ( Forward Bias )

Diagram ( Reverse Bias )

PROCEDURE:
The experiment is performed in the following two steps:

 In forward bias
 In reverse bias

FORWARD BIAS:
1. First connect the circuit.
2. Note down the least count of ammeter and voltmeter.
3. Vary the voltmeter in regular steps and note the corresponding reading of ammeter.
4. Plot a graph between voltage ( on X-axis ) and current ( on Y-axis ).

REVERSE BIAS:
5. Now connect the circuit for reverse bias.
6. Note down the least count of ammeter and voltmeter.
7. Vary the voltmeter in regular steps and note the corresponding reading of ammeter.
8. Plot a graph between voltage ( on negative X-axis ) and current ( on negative Y-axis ).
9. Find the zener breakdown voltage from graph.

OBSERVATIONS:

FORWARD BIAS:

1. Least count of voltmeter =

2. Least count of ammeter =

REVERSE BIAS:
3. Least count of voltmeter =
4. Least count of ammeter =

OBSERVATION TABLE:
FORWARD BIAS:

READING OF VOLTMETER READING OF AMMETER

S. N.
( volts ) ( mA )

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.
 11.

12.

REVERSE BIAS:

READING OF VOLTMETER READING OF AMMETER

S. N.
( volts ) ( µA )

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

RESULT:
From the graph, it is clear that in the forward bias current is relatively more ( of the order of mA )
and as the voltage applied on the diode increases, the current also increases.

In the reverse bias, the current is relatively very weak ( of the order of µA ) and on increasing the
volatge applied on diode, first current almost remains constant and then at a particular voltage, the
current abruptly increases. This voltage is called zener breakdown voltage.

The Zener breakdown voltage is:

PRECAUTIONS:
1. The circuit in forward bias and reverse bias should be connected properly.
2. Current should not be passed for a long duration through the diode otherwise it will get
heated.
3. The voltage applied on diode must be kept below its safe limit.