Diode

Diode, an electrical component that allows the flow of current in only one direction. In circuit diagrams, a diode is represented by a triangle with a line across one vertex. The most common type of diode uses a p-n junction. In this type of diode, one material (n) in which electrons are charge carriers abuts a second material (p) in which holes (places depleted of electrons that act as positively charged particles) act as charge carriers. At their interface, a depletion region is formed across which electrons diffuse to fill holes in the p-side. This stops the further flow of electrons. When this junction is forward biased (that is, a positive voltage is applied to...