KVS Physics Project

2019-20
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA DHULE

CLASS 12
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
PHOTODIODE & ITS WORKING
Submitted by: Lokesh Sunil Mali

Roll No.: 1206
Class 12th
Teacher: Mr. Rahul Shirbate Sir
ACKNOWLEGEMENT
I would like to express my immense gratitude to my

Physicsteacher Mr. Rahul Shirbate Sir, for the help and
guidance heprovided for completing the investigatory project.
His suggestions and instructions haveserved as the major
contributor towards thecompletion of the project.
I also thank my parents who have helped me with their valuable

suggestions & guidance and inputs in making this Project. Most
of all I thank our school management, for providing us the
facilities and opportunity to do this project.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my classmates who

have rendered and done this project along with me. Their
support made this project fruitful.
- Lokesh Mali
INDEX
Introduction to a Photodiode
Working of Photodiode
Modes of operation
Materials Used
Types of Photodiodes
Features
Applications Of Photodiode
Introduction
What is a Photodiode?
A photodiode is a PN-junction diode (Semiconductor Device) that
consumes light energy to
produce electric current or
voltage based on the mode
of operation of the device.
Sometimes it is also called
as photo-detector, a light
detector, and photo-sensor.
The current is generated
when photons are absorbed
in the photodiode.
Photodiodes may contain optical filters, built-in lenses, and may
have large or small surface areas. These diodes have a slow
response time as the surface area
of the photodiode increases. The
common, traditional solar
cell used to generate electric solar
power is a large area photodiode
which works only in bright light.
Photodiodes are similar to

regular semiconductor diodes exc
ept that they may be either
exposed (to detect vacuum
UV or X-rays) or packaged with a
window or optical
fiber connection to allow light to
reach the sensitive part of the
device. Many diodes designed for use specially as a photodiode
use a PIN junction rather than a p–n junction, to increase the
speed of response. A photodiode is designed to operate in reverse
bias it means that the P-side of the photodiode is associated with
the -ve terminal of the battery and n-side is connected to the +ve
terminal of the battery.
Some photodiodes
will look like a
light emitting
diode. They have
two terminals
coming from the
end. The smaller
end of the diode is
the cathode
terminal, while the
longer end of the
diode is the anode
terminal. 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.
Working of a Photodiode
A photodiode is a p–n junction or PIN structure. When

a photon of sufficient energy strikes the diode, it creates
an electron–hole pair. This mechanism is also known as the
inner photoelectric effect. If the absorption occurs in the
junction's depletion region, or one diffusion length away from
it, these carriers are swept from the junction by the built -in
electric field of the depletion region. Thus holes move toward
the anode, and electrons toward the cathode, and
a photocurrent is produced. The total current through the
photodiode is the sum of the dark current (current that is
generated in the absence of light) and the photocurrent, so the
dark current must be minimized to maximize the sensitivity of
the device.
Modes Of Operation
Photovoltaic mode
● ● ●
When used in zero bias or
photovoltaic mode, the flow of Photoconductive mode
photocurrent out of the device In this mode the diode is often (but
is restricted and a voltage not always) reverse biased. This
builds up. The diode becomes increases the width of the depletion
forward biased and "dark layer, which decreases the junction's
current" begins to flow across capacitance resulting in faster
the junction in the direction response times. The reverse bias
opposite to the photocurrent. induces only a small amount of
This mode is responsible for current (known as saturation or back
the photovoltaic effect, which current) along its direction while the
is the basis for solar cells—in photocurrent remains virtually the
fact, a solar cell is just an same. The photocurrent is linearly
array of large area proportional to the illuminance.
photodiodes. Although this mode is faster, the
photovoltaic mode tends to exhibit
less electronic noise.
(The leakage current of a good PIN

diode is so low – < 1nA – that the
Johnson–Nyquist noise of the load
Other Modes resistance in a typical circuit often
Avalanche photodiodes are dominates.)
photodiodes with structure optimized for
operating with high reverse bias, ● ● ●
approaching the reverse breakdown
voltage. This allows each photo-
generated carrier to be multiplied
by avalanche breakdown, resulting in
internal gain within the photodiode,
which increases the
effective responsivity of the device.
Materials Used
The material used to make a photodiode is critical to
defining its properties, because only photons with sufficient energy
to excite electrons across the material's bandgap will produce
significant photocurrents.
Materials commonly used to produce photodiod es include
Electromagnetic spectrum
Material
wavelength range (nm)
Silicon 190–1100
Germanium 400–1700
Indium gallium arsenide 800–2600
Lead(II) sulfide <1000–3500
Mercury cadmium telluride 400–14000
● ● ●
Because of their
greater band gap,
silicon-based
photodiodes
generate less
noise than
germanium-based
photodiodes.
● ● ●
Types of Photodiode
The working of different types of photodiodes is slightly
different, but the basic operation of these diodes remains the
same. It can be classified based on its construction and
functions as follows.
 PN Photodiode
 Schottky Photo Diode
 PIN Photodiode
 Avalanche Photodiode
Features
The linearity of the diode is
Features good with respect to incident
light
 Noise is low.
These diodes are widely used
in the applications where the  The response is wide
detection of the presence of spectral
light, color, position,  Rugged mechanically
intensity is required. The
 Light weight and compact
main features of these diodes
include the following.  Long life
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, and
televisions and remote controls in VCRs.
 In other consumer devices like clock radios, camera light

meters, and street lights, photoconductors are more
frequently used rather than photodiodes.
 Photodiodes are frequently used for exact measurement of

the intensity of light in science & industry. Generally, they
have an enhanced, more linear response than
photoconductors.
 Photodiodes are also widely used in numerous medical

applications like instruments to analyze samples,
detectors for computed tomography and also used in
blood gas monitors.
 These diodes are much faster & more complex than

normal PN junction diodes and hence are frequently used
for lighting regulation and in optical communications.

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2019-20

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA DHULE

Submitted by: Lokesh Sunil Mali

I would like to express my immense gratitude to my

I also thank my parents who have helped me with their valuable

Last but not least, I would like to thank my classmates who

Photodiodes are similar to

A photodiode is a p–n junction or PIN structure. When

(The leakage current of a good PIN

Indium gallium arsenide 800–2600

Lead(II) sulfide <1000–3500

Mercury cadmium telluride 400–14000

 Schottky Photo Diode

 These diodes are used in consumer electronics devices

 In other consumer devices like clock radios, camera light

 Photodiodes are frequently used for exact measurement of

 Photodiodes are also widely used in numerous medical

 These diodes are much faster & more complex than

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