KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA

___________________

2016-17
INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT

Photodiode :-
• Working
• Principle
• Characteristics and
Applications
 • FROM :-
• CLASS :-
• SECTION :-
• ROLL NO :-

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 In the accomplishment of this project
successfully, I would like to thank my principal
___________
and physics teacher ___________, whose
valuable guidance has been the ones that helped
me patch this project and make it full proof
success his suggestions and his instructions has
served as the major contributor towards the
completion of the project.

Last but not the least I would like to thank my

classmates who have helped me a lot.

CERTIFICATE
 This is to certify that ________, a
student of class _____has successfully
completed the investigatory project
under my guidance during the year
2016 – 17 and his work is original.

(Signature)
Physics Teacher

INDEX
• Introduction
• Photodiode
• Types of Photodiode
• Material Required
• Working
• Modes of Operation
• V-I Characteristics
• Applications
• Conclusion

INTRODUCTION :-

A photodiode is a PN-
junction diode that consumes
light energy to produce
electric current. Sometimes it
is also called as photo-
detector, a light detector, and
photo-sensor. These diodes
are particularly designed to
work in reverse bias
condition, it means that the P-
side of the photodiode is
associated with the negative
terminal of the battery and n-
side is connected to the
positive terminal of the
battery.

WHAT IS A PHOTODIODE
• A photodiode is one type of light detector, used to convert the light into
current or voltage based on the mode of operation of the device.
• It comprises of optical filters, built-in lenses and also surface areas.
• These diodes have a slow response time when the surface area of the
photodiode increases.
• Photodiodes are alike to regular semiconductor diodes.

• They may be either visible to let light reach the delicate part of the device.
• Several diodes intended for use exactly as a photodiode will also use a PIN
junction somewhat than the usual PN junction.

See the following schematic diagram for the anode and cathode
side.

• Under forward bias condition, conventional current will flow from

the anode to the cathode, following the arrow in the diode symbol.
• Photocurrent flows in the reverse direction.
 TYPES OF PHOTODIODES

The types of the photodiodes can be

classified based on its construction and
functions as follows :-

• PN Photodiode

• Schottky Photo Diode

• PIN Photodiode

• Avalanche Photodiode
The main features of photodiodes are as
following :-

• These diodes are widely used in different

applications
• Where the detection of the presence of light,
colour, position, intensity is required
• The linearity of the diode is good with
respect to incident light
• Noise is low
• The response is wide spectral
• Rugged mechanically
• Light weight and compact
• Long life
 MATERIALS REQUIRED TO MAKE A
PHOTODIODE :

• For Lead (II) sulfide material: The

electromagnetic spectrum wavelength range
will be <1000-3500) nm

• For Mercury, cadmium Telluride material:

The electromagnetic spectrum wavelength
range will be (400-14000) nm

• Because of their better band gap, Si-based

photodiodes produce lower noise than Ge-
based photodiodes.

WORKING OF
PHOTODIODE
• When a photon of ample energy strikes the
diode.

• It makes a couple of an electron-hole.

• This mechanism is also called as the inner

photoelectric effect.

• If the absorption arises in the depletion

region junction.

• Then the carriers are removed from the

junction by the inbuilt electric field of the
depletion region.
• The holes in the region move toward the
anode, and electrons move toward the
cathode, and a photocurrent will be
generated.

• The entire current through the diode is the

sum of the absence of light and the
photocurrent.

• So the absent current must be reduced to

maximize the sensitivity of the device.
MODES OF OPERATION

• Photovoltaic mode

• Photoconductive mode
• Avalanche diode mode

Photovoltaic Mode:

-This mode is also known as zero

bias mode.

-In which a voltage is produced by

the lightened photodiode.
 -It gives a very small dynamic range
& non-linear necessity of the voltage
formed.
Photoconductive Mode

-The photodiode used in this

photoconductive mode is more
usually reverse biased.

-The reverse voltage application will

increase the depletion layer’s width.

-Which in turn decreases the response

time & the junction capacitance.
-This mode is too fast and displays
electronic noise.

Avalanche Diode Mode

-Avalanche diodes operate in

a high reverse bias condition.

-Which permits multiplication

of an avalanche breakdown
to each photo-produced
electron-hole pair.
-This outcome in an internal
gain in the photodiode, which
slowly increases the device
response.
V-I Characteristics of
Photodiode

-A photodiode continually operates in

a reverse bias mode.

-The photocurrent is nearly

independent of reverse bias voltage
which is applied.
 -For zero luminance, the photocurrent
is almost zero excluding for small
dark current.
The characteristics of the photodiode are shown
clearly in the following figure
 Applications of Photodiode
• The applications of photodiodes involve in
similar applications of photodetectors like
charge-coupled devices, photoconductors, and
photomultiplier tubes.
• These diodes are used in consumer electronics
devices like smoke detectors, compact disc
players, televisions and remote controls in
VCRs.
• It uses in consumer devices like clock radios,
camera light meters, and street lights.
• Photodiodes are also widely used in numerous
medical applications like instruments to analyse
samples, detectors for computed tomography
and also used in blood gas monitors.
• These diodes are much faster & more complex
than normal PN junction diodes.
• It is frequently used for lighting regulation and
in optical communications.
 CONCLUSION

A photodiode is a kind of
light detector, which involves
the conversion of light into
voltage or current, based on
the mode of operation of the
device. A photodiode is a
semi-conductor device, with
a p-n junction and an intrinsic
layer between p and n layers.
 Bibliography

• NCERT textbooks
• Physics Practical
books
• Wikipedia
• I-CBSE.com