Source: YouTube

The Ideality Factor in Diodes

Recombination Mechanisms

The ideality factor of a diode is a measure of how closely it follows the ideal diode equation. This factor, denoted by ‘n’, provides insights into deviations from the ideal behavior due to recombination mechanisms within the diode.

The ideal diode equation assumes that all recombination happens through specific pathways, such as band-to-band or via traps in bulk regions away from the junction. Under these ideal conditions, the ideality factor is equal to 1.

However, in practical diodes, recombination can occur through various mechanisms and in different regions of the device, leading to deviations from the ideal behavior. When considering the actual number of carriers that must recombine, the calculated ideality factor may differ from unity.

These deviations from ideality factor provide valuable information about the non-ideal behavior of diodes in real-world applications. Understanding and characterizing these factors are crucial for optimizing diode performance in various electronic systems.

Source: ResearchGate

Feel free to comment your thoughts.