Flash animation of diode

• The PN junction/depletion zone in silicon has a natural electrical field with a potential difference of about 0.6 V

• Note: without a voltage being applied, electrons still hop into the conduction band due to temperature fluctuations. This creates the diffusion current. When an electron leaves the valence band and becomes free (i.e. it is in the conduction band) a hole (positive charge) is left. This creates what is known as the drift current and the drift current is very temperature dependent.
  
  http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solids/pnjun.html
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Week 3