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Zener Diode Tutorial

SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 BY ADMINISTRATOR — LEAVE A COMMENT

Table of Contents 
1. Introduction
2. Zener Diode I-V Characteristics Curve
2.1. Avalanche Breakdown
2.2. Zener Breakdown
3. Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator
4. Zener Diode Regulator
4.0.1. Zener Diodes in Series
5. Zener Diode Voltages
6. Zener Diode Clippers

Introduction
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A normal P-N junction diode is usually fabricated by adjusting the P-type and N-type
semiconductors on a single semiconductor crystal. The characteristics of a junction diode
demonstrate that it is designed largely for operating in the forward direction. Applying a large
amount of forward bias causes greater forward current with a small value of forward voltage.

However, reverse biasing the diode do not cause conduction of current till high values of
reverse voltage are reached. If the reverse voltage is large enough, breakdown occurs and a
reverse current starts to ow. Ordinary Junction diodes are generally damaged when this
breakdown occurs. The ow of current in zener diodes is controlled by the minority charge
carriers under the reverse bias condition, so they can also be referred to as break down
diodes.

During speci c conditions of fabrication, a special type of diode is formed that will not be
ruined when the breakdown voltage is increased, given that the current does not exceed a
de ned limit to prevent the case of overheating. This type of devices is referred to as zener
diodes.
Zener diodes are named after Clarence Melvin Zener by the Bell Laboratories, who discovered
this type of electrical property. These diodes are a unique kind of diodes with heavy doping
concentration at the time of fabrication. Due to the heavy doping, a large number of free
electrons and electron holes are created and are responsible for conducting current due to
minority carriers in reverse bias.

These diodes are designed to have avalanche characteristic that is very steep. Zener diodes
are heavily doped silicon diodes, unlike normal diodes that exhibit an impulsive reverse break-
down at comparatively low voltages.

Zener diodes allow current to ow in the forward direction in the similar manner as an ideal
diode, and also it permits current to ow in the reverse direction when the voltage is above a
certain value known as the breakdown voltage. This voltage can also be referred as zener
knee voltage or zener voltage.

If the voltage across the diode is increased, temperature increases and crystal ions vibrate
with greater amplitude and all these leads to the breakdown of the depletion layer. When
breakdown occurs, there will be a sharp increase in reverse current. A large amount of varying
reverse current can pass through the diode without damaging it.

So zener diodes are intended to function in the reverse breakdown region with a reverse
breakdown voltage (Vz) in the range 2.4 V to 200 V. The value of Vz depends on the doping
concentration. When the Zener voltage is reached, the zener diode conducts current from its
cathode terminal to its anode terminal.

The breakdown voltage or zener voltage across the zener diode fairly remains constant. The
maximum amount of reverse current is limited by the wattage rating of the diode.

There are many di erent kinds of Zener diodes. They categorized by power dissipation,
nominal working voltage, forward current, forward voltage, packaging type and maximum
reverse current. General values for working zener knee voltage are 5.1 V, 6.2 V, 15 V and so on.
Forward current can have a range from 200uA to 200A with the most common forward current
being 10mA or 200mA.

Zener diodes found its use in several applications. They are widely used as voltage reference
diodes in electronics circuits that allow simple and stable reference voltage regulator circuits
to be prepared, as well as they are cheap and easy to manufacture.

They can be used as surge suppressors for device protection, in clipping circuits for clipping
the waveforms that are not required, in di erent switching operations, as reference elements
and they can be used to remove spikes that may damage a circuit or cause it to overload.

The unvarying reverse voltage of a zener diode renders it as a very useful component in
controlling the output voltage against the variations in load resistance or variations in the input
voltage provided from an unstable voltage source such as the battery bank of a renewable
energy system which will uctuate depending on the state of charge of the bank. The current
through the Zener diode will change to keep the voltage within the adjustable threshold limits
of zener action.

Manufacturers rate zener diodes according to their Vz value and the maximum power
dissipation at room temperature i.e., 25ºC. This is an indication of the maximum reverse current
that a zener diode can safely conduct electric current. Each zener knee voltage value is
generally speci ed at lowest zener current. As a result the power dissipation values are used
to indicate the safe operating range. Typical values of power dissipation ratings are from
150mW to 50W.

Zener diode can be identi ed by the terminal that is by observing a black color ring at cathode
terminal. If the diode is an SMD component, then a colour band will be available for cathode
terminal. By recognizing the zener diode code marked over the device, we can determine the
value of it.

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Zener Diode I-V Characteristics Curve

In the forward bias condition, the zener diode behaves like an ideal diode within speci ed
current and power limits, but it di ers in reverse bias condition where the zener diode has very
steep avalanche characteristic at the breakdown voltage in reverse bias condition.

Zener operates mainly in the reverse bias mode by connecting anode to the negative terminal
of the power supply. Zener diodes are categorised and rated by the voltage at which they will
turn on or start to conduct the reverse bias current.
The maximum power intended for a zener diode is speci ed as Pz=VzIz max and it is a function
of the plan and structure of the diode. The knee of the curve is generally approximated as 10%
of Iz max, i.e., Iz min=0.1Iz max.

Generally these zener diodes are used to regulate the voltage. In reverse bias condition after
the break down zener diode provides a constant output voltage even if we increase the input
voltage. There are speci cally two separate mechanisms that might cause a breakdown in a
zener diode:

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Avalanche Breakdown
It is predominant above approximately 5.5 volts. This mechanism is also referred to as impact
ionisation or avalanche multiplication. For reverse conduction it is necessary to visualise the
phenomenon of avalanche breakdown. This process begins when a large negative bias is
applied to the PN junction, su cient energy is imparted to thermally generated minority
charge carriers in the semiconductors.

As a result the free carriers acquire required kinetic energy to break the covalent bonds and
create an electric eld through collisions with crystal particles. The charge carriers created in
collision contribute to the reverse current, well beyond the normal reverse saturation current
and may also possess enough energy to participate through collisions, creating an additional
electric eld and the avalanche e ect by impact ionization, once a su ciently high reverse bias
is provided this process of conduction takes place very much like an avalanche: a single
electron can ionise several others.

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Zener Breakdown
It is predominant below approximately 5.5 volts. This mechanism is also referred to as a high
eld emission mechanism. The phenomenon of zener breakdown is related to the concept of
avalanche breakdown. Zener breakdown is achieved by heavily doped regions in the
neighbourhood of ohmic contact.

It is the second method of disturbing the covalent bonds of the crystal atoms and increasing
the reverse bias zener diode current, to be sustained at a much lower speci c voltage than
normal diode. The reverse bias voltage known as zener voltage, where this mechanism occurs
is determined by the diode doping concentration and it occurs when the depletion layer eld
width is su ciently enough to disrupting the covalent bonds and cause number of free charge
carriers due to electric eld generation to swell.

The true Zener e ect in semiconductors can be explained in terms of two upper energy bands
are of interest. The two upper energy bands are namely the conduction band and the valence
band.

Either of these e ects or a combination of the two mechanisms signi cantly increases the
current in the reverse bias region while having a negligible e ect in the voltage drop across
the junction. When the applied reverse bias voltage is greater than a predetermined voltage,
zener breakdown takes place.

The zener breakdown voltage is made sharp and distinct by controlling the doping
concentration and when surface imperfections are avoided. The voltage across the zener
diode in breakdown region is almost constant that turns out to be an essential concept in
regulating the voltage.

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Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

I-V characteristics of zener diode make it suitable for application such as a voltage regulator. A
voltage stabilizer is a combination of elements that are designed to ensure the output voltage
of a supply fairly remains constant. Excess voltage protection is done by using zener diodes
because there will be reverse current due to minority charge carriers starts owing through
the diode after the reverse bias voltage exceeds a certain value.

Keeping the zener diode in parallel with a variable load resistance RL, ensures a constant
output voltage even though the load current and the supply voltage varies. In practical circuits
the simplest form of current source is a resistor. The key in using the zener diode as voltage
regulator is that as long as the zener diode is reverse biased, the ow of current  greater than a
few micro amperes must be accompanied by a voltage greater than the Zener voltage.

This type of arrangement of the circuit provides safety for equipment connected to terminals.
This arrangement of regulator circuit is referred to as a shunt regulator in which the regulating
element is placed in parallel with the load. The input voltage to the system is a few volts and
as long as it is more than the desired output voltage, a stable voltage will be produced across
the zener diode.

Usually the reverse current should not exceed normal value but, if due to any fault in circuit
construction the current exceeds maximum allowable limit, the system will damage
permanently. However to avoid unbalanced performance, zener diodes are used for voltage
reference in many measuring instruments.

As the input voltage increases, current through the zener diode increases, but the drop in
voltage remains constant which is the necessary feature required for zener diodes. Therefore,
reverse current in the circuit has increased, voltage drop across the resistor increases by an
amount equal to the di erence between the applied input voltage and the zener knee voltage
of the zener diode.
The output voltage of regulator system is xed as the zener knee voltage of the zener diode
and can be used in power devices requiring a xed voltage of rm value. The zener diode will
continue in regulating the voltage till the zener diode current falls below the minimum Iz
min value in the reverse breakdown region.

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Zener Diode Regulator

At the time of initiation, choose the zener diode based on the voltage required. Construction of
a voltage regulator is easy with the help of an ideal Zener diode, merely connecting the diode
between the unregulated source of voltage and ground.

The source resistance Rs is connected in series with zener diode to limit the ow of current
through the diode with voltage source connected across the combination. The cathode
terminal of zener diode is connected to the positive terminal of the voltage source so that the
zener diode is biased in reverse condition and will be operating in breakdown region.

When the load is not connected across the zener diode, no load current will be conducted
and all the current due to the circuit will pass through the zener diode dissipating maximum
amount of power that causes overheating of the diode and damages permanently.

Selecting the appropriate values of series resistance Rs is also important because it also
causes greater diode current, so that maximum power dissipation of the diode should not be
exceeded under no load or at high impedance condition.
Whenever a load is connected in parallel with zener diode, voltage across the load is same as
the zener diode voltage. However the source voltage must be greater than the zener voltage
and the upper limit of zener current depends on the power rating of the zener diode;
otherwise the zener voltage will simply follow the applied input voltage.

It is also necessary that both zener diode and resistor should have a high rating of power to
handle all of the current across the circuit. If a decoupling capacitor is present across the zener
diode, it is more useful in providing additional smoothing to the DC supply which is necessary
to stabilize the voltage.

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Zener Diodes in Series

When two or more than two zener diodes are in a manner such that the cathode of the rst
zener diode is connected to the anode of the second zener diode similarly cathode of the
second zener diode is connected to the anode of the third zener diode, such a type of
connection is referred to as a series connection of zener diodes. In this connection the total
voltage across the circuit is equal to the sum of the voltages of all zener diodes in the
connection.

From the gure shown above, 3V zener diodes are connected in series. The total zener voltage
of this series connection is 9V. The zener voltage ratings of the individual zener diodes should
be best chosen for most of the applications.

A characteristic zener diode for general purpose electronic circuits has the power rating of
500mW, BZX55 zener diode series or the larger 1.3W, BZX85 zener series are most commonly
used zener diodes. The 500mW, BZX55 series zener diodes are generally available in the
range varying from 2.4 Volts to nearly about 100 Volts.

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Zener Diode Voltages

BZX55-Series:

Power Dissipation: 0.5 W

PART NUMBER ZENER VOLTAGE RANGE PART NUMBER ZENER VOLTAGE RANGE

BZX55C2V4 2.4 BZX55C15 15

BZX55C2V7 2.7 BZX55C16 16

BZX55C3V0 3 BZX55C18 18

BZX55C3V3 3.3 BZX55C20 20

BZX55C3V6 3.6 BZX55C22 22

BZX55C3V9 3.9 BZX55C24 24

BZX55C4V3 4.3 BZX55C27 27

BZX55C4V7 4.7 BZX55C30 30

BZX55C5V1 5.1 BZX55C33 33

BZX55C5V6 5.6 BZX55C36 36

BZX55C6V2 6.2 BZX55C39 39

BZX55C6V8 6.8 BZX55C43 43

 PART NUMBER ZENER VOLTAGE RANGE PART NUMBER ZENER VOLTAGE RANGE

BZX55C7V5 7.5 BZX55C47 47

BZX55C8V2 8.2 BZX55C51 51

BZX55C9V1 9.1 BZX55C56 56

BZX55C10 10 BZX55C62 62

BZX55C11 11 BZX55C68 68

BZX55C12 12 BZX55C75 75

BZX55C13 13

BZX85-Series:

Power Dissipation: 1.3 W

PART NUMBER ZENER VOLTAGE RANGE PART NUMBER ZENER VOLTAGE RANGE

BZX85C2V7 2.7 BZX85C18 18

BZX85C3V0 3 BZX85C20 20

BZX85C3V3 3.3 BZX85C22 22

BZX85C3V6 3.6 BZX85C24 24

BZX85C3V9 3.9 BZX85C27 27

BZX85C4V3 4.3 BZX85C30 30

BZX85C4V7 4.7 BZX85C33 33

BZX85C5V1 5.1 BZX85C36 36

BZX85C5V6 5.6 BZX85C39 39

BZX85C6V2 6.2 BZX85C43 43

 PART NUMBER ZENER VOLTAGE RANGE PART NUMBER ZENER VOLTAGE RANGE

BZX85C6V8 6.8 BZX85C47 47

BZX85C7V5 7.5 BZX85C51 51

BZX85C8V2 8.2 BZX85C56 56

BZX85C9V1 9.1 BZX85C62 62

BZX85C10 10 BZX85C68 68

BZX85C11 11 BZX85C75 75

BZX85C12 12 BZX85C82 82

BZX85C13 13 BZX85C91 91

BZX85C15 15 BZX85C100 100

BZX85C16 16

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Zener Diode Clippers

Zener diode based clipping circuits limit the certain part of the input waveform that is applied
across the input terminals, these zener diode clippers are generally used for protecting the
circuits and in shaping of the input waveforms. Consider a clipper circuit as shown in the gure.
If we want to clip the waveform above 3.2 V, we will use a 3.2 V zener diode.

The output waveform can be clipped on the positive side by greater than 3.2 V and there
maintains a constant output. The waveform on the negative side is clipped at 0.7 V and there
after the zener diode turns ON and acts as a silicon diode.

The diode and power supply as shown will prevent the output voltage from exceeding 0.7V.
Zener diode clipping circuits are used to eliminate noise in amplitude and spikes in voltage,
voltage regulation and to make fresh waveforms from an existing signal such as squaring o
the peaks of a sinusoidal waveform to obtain a rectangular waveform.
Connecting the zener diodes in opposite direction, back to back fashion produces an AC
regulator that can be used as a square wave generator. It is the most commonly used zener
diode connection for clipping the waveforms and protecting the electronic circuits from over
voltage.

Both the zener diodes are usually connected across the input terminals of the power supply,
at some point in the normal functioning, one of the zener diode in the circuit is OFF and the
other zener diode have no or very little a ect.

On the other hand if the applied input voltage to the circuit exceeds the maximum limit, then
the zener diode is turned ON and it will clip the applied input signal for protecting the circuit.

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