AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Department of CSE
Fall 24-25

ELECTRONIC DEVICES LAB

Section: S
LAB REPORT ON:

Study of Zener Diode

Name ID
Zarin Anjum Saimee 23-52560-2
Md Foize Khan Rion 23-52521-2
Niladri Roy Nion 23-51202-1
Md Abu Kayser Sizan 23-50726-1

Date of Submission: 26th November, 2024

Abstract :
In that experiment, the main objective was to understand what a Zener diode is and its
voltage-current characteristics. We also studied the voltage regulation characteristics of a
Zener diode. A Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor device that allows current to flow
in both forward and reverse directions. When forward-biased, it operates like a regular
diode. However, in reverse bias, if the reverse voltage reaches its specified breakdown
voltage (Vz), current begins to flow through the diode. This breakdown voltage is also
referred to as the "Zener knee voltage," "Zener voltage," "avalanche point," or "peak
inverse voltage." Throughout the experiment, these characteristics were observed using a
trainer board circuit and NI Multisim software, and characteristic graphs were analyzed.
Theory :
A Zener diode is a diode that allows current to flow in the forward direction in the same
manner as an ideal diode but also permits it to flow in the reverse direction when the
voltage is above a certain value known as the breakdown voltage, Zener knee voltage,
Zener voltage, avalanche point, or peak inverse voltage. If the voltage is increased
beyond this certain value, there is a sudden rapid rise in current causing the destruction of
the device. The basic function of the Zener diode is to maintain a specific voltage across
its terminals within given limits of line or load voltage. Usually, it is used to provide a
stable reference voltage for power supplies and other equipment. Figure 1 shows a Zener
diode-based circuit that maintains a 10 V reference voltage. When a reverse voltage equal
to the Zener voltage is applied, the reverse current is limited only by the small value of
Zener resistance and the circuit series resistance, R.

Figure 1: Zener diode circuit that maintains a 10 V across the load.

A Zener diode is much like a normal diode, the exception is that it is placed in the circuit in
reverse bias mode and operates in reverse breakdown. The typical characteristic curve in
Fig. 2 illustrates the operating range (ash color region) for a Zener diode. Note that its
forward characteristics are just like a normal diode as in Fig. 2.
 Figure 2: The normal operating region of a Zener diode is shaded.
The doping process determines the Zener diode’s breakdown characteristics. One of the most
important features of the characteristic curve in the reverse direction is called the Zener voltage (Vz),
which is the voltage at which avalanche or Zener breakdown occurs. This region is shown in Fig. 3.
There are two types of Zener diodes based on the breakdown voltage ranges, such as
1. Low voltage Zener diodes 2. High voltage Zener diodes.
Low voltage Zener diodes have operating Zener breakdown less than 5 V. Those designed to
operate more than 5 V, operate mostly in avalanche breakdown range, are known as high
voltage Zener diodes. Zener diodes are available with breakdown voltage ranges from 1.8
V to 200 V.
At a particular Zener voltage, there is a minimum and maximum current called the Zener
knee or minimum (IZK) and maximum (IZM) currents. The minimum Zener current (IZK) is
necessary to cause the Zener diode to avalanche, that is, to work in the Zener mode. The
maximum Zener current (IZM) is necessary to limit the power dissipation in the Zener
diode in the Zener mode. This is illustrated in Fig. 3.
The resistance of the Zener diode in the breakdown region is called the dynamic resistance
that can be obtained by finding the slope of the line in the breakdown region (i.e., in the
third quadrant). For most applications, it is desirable that dynamic resistance (Rz) should
have as low a value as possible. The small value of Rz is reflected in the steep slope of the
Zener characteristics in the reverse direction and this is the reason why the Zener diode
finds so many applications as a voltage reference regulator circuit, in voltage surge
protection, and in waveform shaping circuits.
Figure 3: The minimum and maximum ranges of operating current for a Zener
to maintain its voltage effectively.

A Zener diode can be operated in both forward and reverse-biased modes. In forward-biased
mode, the anode of the Zener is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, and the
cathode of the Zener is connected to the negative terminal of the battery. Then it will act
as a normal diode. In reverse-biased mode, the anode of the Zener is connected to the
negative terminal of the battery, and the cathode of the Zener is connected to the positive
terminal of the battery as shown in Fig. 4 (a). In the latter mode, the Zener diode can act
as a voltage regulator. A voltage regulator is designed to keep the output voltage of a
circuit at a constant value, independent of the input voltage and independent of the load
current. A Zener diode connected in parallel to the load is the simplest form of such a
voltage regulator circuit shown in Fig. 4 (b). If the voltage across the load tries to rise,
then the Zener diode takes more current. The increase in current through the resistor
causes an increase in voltage drop across the resistor and causes the voltage across the
load to remain at its correct value. Similarly, if the voltage across the load tries to fall,
then the Zener diode takes less current. The current through the resistor and the voltage
across the resistor both fall. The voltage across the load remains at its correct value.

(a) (b)
 Figure 4: Zener diode-based circuit diagram: (a) Characteristics study; (b)
Voltage regulator study.

Apparatus :

SL# Apparatus Quantity

1 Zener Diode 1
2 Resistance (100  220  0 1 each
)
3 Potentiometer (0-20 k, 0-1 1 each
k)
4 Project Board 1
5 Function Generator 1
6 Oscilloscope 1
7 DC milliammeter (0-500 mA) 1
8 Multimeter 1
9 Connecting Leads 10

Precautions :
1.A diode should never be removed or inserted into a circuit with voltage applied.

2.A replacement diode should be ensured to be inserted into a circuit in the correct direction.

[Link] correct connection of the transformer should be made sure.

[Link] testing a diode, it should be ensured that the test voltage does not exceed the diode's:
Exoerimental procedure :

A. Study of Zener diode characteristics:

[Link] actual value of the 470 Ω resistor is measured.

[Link] circuit is connected as shown in Fig. 5 (a).
[Link] line voltage (VR) and diode voltage (VD) are measured using the multimeter
(voltmeter mode) and milliammeter.
[Link] DC power supply is turned on with the voltage control knob at 0 V.
[Link] voltage control knob is rotated from 0 to +15 V gradually with a step of 0.1 V to 1 V
and then 1 V to 15 V as shown in Table 1 (a).
[Link] voltage across the two terminals of the supply voltage, diode, and resistor are measured
for all cases.
[Link] DC power supply is turned off.
[Link] diode current (I) is calculated and Table 1 (a) is filled up.
[Link] circuit is connected as shown in Fig. 5 (b).
[Link] 3-8 are repeated, but Table 1 (b) is filled up.
[Link] images of the circuit diagram are recorded.
[Link] I-V and I-V characteristic curves for the Zener diode are plotted in the forward and
reverse-biased modes.
[Link] knee voltage and static and dynamic resistance of the Zener diode are determined
from the forward curve.
Component Implements and Oscilloscope View:

Figure-1: Forward bias. (a) Figure-2: Reverse bias. (b)

Figure-3: Circuit diagram for the determination of Zener diode’s

voltage regulation characteristics.

Hardware Implementations:
Table-1: Data for forward bias 1(a).

Source Voltage, Diode Voltage, Resistor Voltage, Diode Current, Id

Es(V) VD (v) VR(V) (mA)
0 0 0 0
0.1 0.109 0 0
0.2 0.211 0 0
0.3 0.301 0 0
0.4 0.398 0 0
0.5 0.424 0 0
0.6 0.446 0.0047 0.010
0.7 0.465 0.040 0.087
0.8 0.477 0.109 0.238
0.9 0.487 0.197 0.433
1 0.492 0.289 0.633
2 0.514 1.28 2.80
3 0.532 2.260 4.94
Table-2: Data for Reverse bias 2(b).

Source Voltage, Diode Voltage, Resistor Voltage, Diode Current, Id

Es(V) VD (v) VR(V) (mA)
0 -0.0107 0 0
0.1 -0.109 0 0
0.2 -0.211 0 0
0.3 -0.299 0 0
0.4 -0.406 0 0
0.5 -0.500 0 0
0.6 -0.600 0 0
0.7 -0.716 0 0
0.8 -0.813 0 0
0.9 -0.904 0 0
1 -1.006 0 0
2 -2.01 0 0
3 -3.02 0 0
4 -4.02 0 0
5 -5.00 0 0
6 -5.54 0.47 -1.04
7 -5.56 1.49 -3.27
8 -5.57 2.47 -5.43
9 -5.58 3.41 -7.47
10 -5.59 4.41 -9.65
12 -5.61 6.41 -14.03
15 -5.64 9.41 -20.60

Table-3: Data for voltage regulation Figure 3.

Source Line Load Line Zener Load
Voltage Voltage Voltage Current Current,IZ(mA) Current
, Es , VR (V) , VL (V) , I , IL
(V) (mA) (mA)
0 0 0.010 0.001 0 0.001
1 0.044 0.97 0.0973 0 0.0973
2 0.088 1.96 0.196 0 0.196
3 0.12 2.87 0.287 0 0.287
4 0.17 3.83 0.383 0 0.383
5 0.21 4.80 0.480 0 0.480
6 0.48 5.54 1.065 0.511 0.554
7 1.52 5.56 3.34 2.78 0.556
8 2.43 5.57 5.33 4.77 0.557
9 3.41 5.58 7.46 6.90 0.558
10 4.40 5.59 9.64 9.08 0.559
12 6.42 5.61 14.06 13.50 0.561
15 9.36 5.64 20.49 19.92 0.564

Simulation for Fig-1(a):

 Figure-4: Simulation for Fig-4(a)(10v)

Simulated values for Fig-1(a):

Source Voltage, Diode Voltage, Resistor Voltage, Diode Current, Id
Es(V) VD (v) VR(V) (mA)
0 0 0 0

0.1 0.100 153.215 nV 335.842 pA

0.2 0.200 5.341 uV 0.000011
0.3 0.299 248.67 uV 0.000544
0.4 0.391 0.0085 0.018
0.5 0.441 0.058 0.128
0.6 0.463 0.136 0.300
0.7 0.475 0.224 0.490
0.8 0.484 0.315 0.690
0.9 0.491 0.408 0.894
1 0.496 0.503 1.10
2 0.524 1.476 3.22
3 0.537 2.460 5.38
4 0.546 3.45 7.55
5 0.553 4.44 9.73
6 0.558 5.44 11.90
7 0.562 6.43 14.06
8 0.566 7.43 16.26
9 0.569 8.43 18.44
10 0.572 9.42 20.62
12 0.577 11.42 24.99
15 0.583 14.41 31.54

Simulation for Fig-2(b):

 Figure-5: Simulation for Fig-5(b) (10v)

Simulated values for Fig-2(b):

Source Voltage, Diode Voltage, Resistor Voltage, Diode Current, Id

Es(V) VD (v) VR(V) (mA)
0 0 0 0
0.1 -0.100 47.95 nV -105.47 pA
0.2 -0.200 93.72 nV -205.39 pA
0.3 -0.300 138.91 nV -305.31 pA
0.4 -0.400 184.28 nV -405.23 pA
0.5 -0.500 228.71 nV -500.6 pA
0.6 -0.600 276.27 nV -610.623 pA
0.7 -0.700 321.58 nV -710.54 pA
0.8 -0.800 364.71 nV -799.4 pA
0.9 -0.904 413.129 nV -910.38 pA
1 -1.0 460.30 nV -1.01 nA
2 -2.0 907.32 nV -1.9 nA
3 -3.0 1.3 uV -3.02 nA
4 -4.0 1.822 uV -3.997 nA
5 -5.00 2.284 uV -5.063 nA
6 -5.50 0.496 -1.087
7 -5.53 1.46 -3.21
8 -5.54 2.45 -5.37
9 -5.54 3.44 -7.54
10 -5.56 4.44 -9.71
12 -5.57 6.43 -14.07
15 -5.58 9.42 -20.61
Simulation for Fig-4:

Figure-6: Simulation for Fig-6 (10v)

Simulated values for Fig-4:

Source Line Load Line Zener Load

Voltage Voltage Voltage Current Current,IZ(mA) Current
, Es , VR (V) , VL (V) , I , IL
(V) (mA) (mA)
0 0 0 0 0 0
1 0.083 0.916 0.183 0 0.183
2 0.167 1.83 0.366 0 0.366
3 0.251 2.74 0.549 0 0.549
4 0.334 3.66 0.733 0 0.733
5 0.418 4.58 0.916 0 0.916
6 0.553 5.44 1.211 0.121 1.089
7 1.47 5.52 3.23 2.13 1.104
8 2.46 5.53 5.38 4.27 1.10
9 3.45 5.54 7.55 6.44 1.11
10 4.443 5.557 9.722 8.611 1.111
12 6.432 5.56 14.075 12.96 1.114
15 9.42 5.57 20.617 19.50 1.116
Question Answers:
(1)

Figure-7: Shows V-I characteristic curve of Zener diode where it

clearly visible that Zener breakdown voltage is 5.5V
(Experimental Data)

Figure-8: Shows V-I characteristic curve of Zener diode where it

clearly visible that Zener breakdown voltage is 5.5V (Simulated
Data)
(2)
VL Vs IL graph for table 1 is given below:
(3)
VL Vs IL graph for table 2 is given below:

(4)
The purpose of this experiment was fulfilled which was study of Zener Diode. In this
experiment the Zener voltage was identified by varying supply voltage and monitoring
current through the Zener diode and resistor. From the graph of I-V characteristic of a
Zener diode its shown that our Zener voltage is 5.5V. From this experiment it was learned
that Zener diode work for a circuit as a overvoltage protection or it can be said that it can
protect a circuit from voltage spike. Because Zener diode reverse voltage stay constant if
voltage to the circuit increased. Also, the voltage regulation circuit was learned in this
experiment where current increase when load resistance decreases as a result voltage drop
in Load decreased. After that, voltage regulation for supply voltage variation was also
learned.

Discussion:
The purpose of the experiment was to learn more about the properties and uses of Zener
diodes.

1. Zener Diode Characteristics:

Both forward bias and reverse bias conditions were investigated for Zener diodes. The diodes
showed a typical breakdown behavior in reverse bias, maintaining a consistent voltage of
 5.50 V over a range of currents. This behavior was validated by simulations and
experimental data (Tables 1, 2, and Figures 2, 3).

2. Voltage Regulation:

Variable input voltages and loads were examined in a voltage regulator circuit based on a
Zener diode (Table 3 and Figure 4). The circuit was demonstrated to be useful in
stabilizing electrical outputs by successfully regulating voltage.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the objectives of the experiment were successfully achieved by providing a

comprehensive understanding of Zener diode characteristics and their practical
application in voltage regulation. The existence of the Zener effect was verified, and its
importance in preserving steady voltages in electronic circuits was comprehended by
examining the I-V characteristics. The development and testing of voltage regulator
circuits further provided evidence of the reliability and adjustability of Zener diodes to a
variety of operating conditions. The design and troubleshooting of electrical circuits
where stable voltage references are crucial can benefit greatly from these insights. Also,
there were some notable differences between the measured values and the simulated
values due to some simulated parameters being not set exactly as in the lab. The results of
the overall experiment almost matched the expected ones.

References:

Adel S. Sedra, Kenneth C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, Saunders College Publishing, 3rd
ed., ISBN: 0-03-051648-X, 1991.
David J. Comer, Donald T. Comer, Fundamentals of Electronic Circuit Design, John Wiley &
Sons Canada, Ltd.; ISBN: 0-471-41016-0, 2002.
[Link]