How are diode manufacturers reducing the leakage current in their products?
Diodes are requisite components in modern electronics, serving crucial roles in rectification, signal modulation, and voltage regulation. However, one persistent challenge that manufacturers face is leakage current, which can lead to energy loss, reduced efficiency, and potentially, device failure. Before delving into solutions, it's essential to understand leakage current. In a diode, when reverse biased, a small current flow due to minority carriers. This leakage current, while usually negligible, can become significant in high-power or high-frequency applications, leading to inefficiencies. Advanced Semiconductor Materials One key approach to reducing this is the use of advanced semiconductor materials. Silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) offer superior properties compared to traditional silicon, including higher breakdown voltage and lower intrinsic carrier concentration, resulting in lower leakage currents. Optimized Diode Structures Manufact...