Schottky Diode Fundamentals

By Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

Most people who use diodes are more familiar with junction devices than with the surface barrier diodes commonly used in mixer and detector circuits. In a junction diode the rectifying junction is formed between a p-type region and an n-type region of a semiconductor. In a surface barrier diode the rectifying junction is formed between a metal and a semiconductor, which may be either n-type or p-type.

Both devices operate on the same physical principals, the difference being in the construction.

The Schottky barrier diode is made by sputtering or evaporating the barrier metal onto the surface of the semiconductor (silicon or gallium arsenide).

The Schottky barrier type is available with a wider range of electrical properties and package types for more advanced circuits. In this application note we go into the details of the physics, construction, and applications of Schottky diodes.

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•Application Note: Schottky Diode Fundamentals