Although all diodes allow current to flow primarily in one direction, different diode types are optimized for specific applications.

Rectifier diodes are widely used in power supplies. Schottky diodes provide faster switching and lower voltage drop. Zener diodes regulate voltage, while TVS diodes protect circuits against transient voltage spikes.

Choosing the appropriate diode can improve efficiency, reliability, and protection performance. Selecting the wrong one can lead to excessive heat generation or circuit failure.

Explore the complete guide:
https://jlcpcb.com/blog/diode-type-guide

Diode Types Chart (Quick Comparison)

Diode Type Speed Forward Voltage (Vf) Max Reverse Voltage Reverse Recovery (trr) Primary Use Typical Package
Rectifier Slow 0.7-1.1V Up to 1000V 1-10µs AC-DC conversion DO-41 / SMA
Schottky Very fast 0.15-0.45V 20-200V ~0 (majority carrier) SMPS, low-loss rectification SMA / SMB
Zener Medium Fixed breakdown Defined Vz ~100ns Voltage regulation, clamping SOD-123 / DO-35
TVS Sub-nanosecond Clamping Vc Surge-rated Picoseconds ESD/transient protection SMAJ / SMBJ
LED Medium 1.2-3.5V (color-dependent) 5-50V N/A Lighting, indication 0603 / 5050
Photodiode Fast N/A (reverse biased) 20-100V 1-10ns Optical sensing TO-18 / 1206
Fast Recovery Fast 0.8-1.2V 100-1200V 25-500ns High-frequency rectification DO-41 / TO-220
Laser Diode N/A 1.5-3.0V Low (5-20V) N/A Optical communication, LiDAR TO-56
Electronic Tips & Projects

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!