The main role of rectifier diodes in electronic circuits 1

The main function of rectifier diodes in electronic circuits is to convert alternating current into direct current. AC power is a current with alternating positive and negative voltages, while DC power is a current with a constant voltage. Rectifiers can rectify alternating current through their special electronic flow mechanism.

The working principle of rectifier diodes is based on the characteristics of PN junctions. A PN junction is composed of a combination of P-type and N-type semiconductors. P-type semiconductors have positively charged holes, while N-type semiconductors have negatively charged electrons. When a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor are connected together, a PN junction is formed. A depletion layer is formed near the PN junction, where there are no freely moving electrons and holes.

When the P terminal of the PN junction is connected to a positive voltage and the N terminal is connected to a negative voltage, the width of the depletion layer increases, causing electrons and holes to accumulate in the depletion layer. This will result in the formation of a high electric field region called a potential barrier. The potential barrier hinders the free movement of electrons and holes.

When the positive cycle of alternating current arrives, its voltage exceeds the potential barrier voltage, and electrons and holes overcome the barrier and begin to move in the depletion layer. In this way, current can flow through the rectifier diodes. However, when the negative cycle of alternating current arrives, its voltage is lower than the voltage of the potential barrier, which hinders the movement of electrons and holes, thereby preventing the flow of current. In this way, rectifier diodes only allow current to pass in one direction, thereby achieving the conversion of AC to DC power.