barrier potential silicon

Question

Approximate barrier potential of silicon PN junction at room temperature?

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

1. **Barrier Potential ($V_b$)**: Due to the diffusion of carriers across the junction, a depletion layer forms with a built-in electric field.
2. **Dopant Influence**: The magnitude of this barrier depends on the semiconductor material and the doping concentration.
3. **Standard Values**: 
   - For **Silicon (Si)** PN junction: **$V_b \approx 0.7$ V** at room temperature.
   - For **Germanium (Ge)** PN junction: $V_b \approx 0.3$ V.
4. **Conduction**: A silicon diode does not conduct significantly in the forward direction until the applied voltage exceeds this threshold.

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barrier potential silicon

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