A diode rectifier is a semiconductor device that rectifies alternating current from a commercial power supply in a power supply circuit to obtain a pulsating current.
Rectifier diodes are characterised by their large size, high current capacity, high voltage withstand and rugged construction compared to normal small signal diodes.
In a diode rectifier, the P-type terminal side is called the anode and the N-type terminal side is called the cathode. Near the PN junction, the N-type electrons and P-type holes cancel each other to form a depletion layer. When a forward voltage is applied between the anode and cathode, holes are injected into the P-type region and electrons are injected into the N-type region, thereby narrowing the depletion layer and allowing current to flow from the P-type to the N-type.
When a reverse voltage is applied, electrons are injected into the P-type region and holes are injected into the N-type region, resulting in a widening of the depletion layer and no current flow. This shows that in a diode, current flows only in the direction of P-type to N-type.
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