Online Encyclopedia
Schottky diode
The Schottky diode (named after German physicist Walter H. Schottky) is a semiconductor diode with a low forward voltage drop. A typical application is discharge-protection for solar cells connected to lead-acid batteries. While standard silicon diodes have a forward voltage drop of about 0.6 volts, Schottky diodes have a drop of only about 0.2 volts.
A Schottky diode uses a metal-semiconductor junction as a Schottky barrier (instead of a semiconductor-semiconductor junction as in conventional diodes). This Schottky barrier results in both very fast switching times and low forward voltage drop.
External references
- The Metal-Semiconductor Junction. Schottky Diode. http://www.mtmi.vu.lt/pfk/funkc_dariniai/diod/schottky.htm
Last updated: 02-11-2005 00:12:42
Last updated: 02-27-2005 05:06:20