When reverse biased, the width of depletion layer in a PN junction diode:

When reverse biased, the width of depletion layer in a PN junction diode: Correct Answer Increases

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Forward Bias:

  • When forward biased, the applied voltage V of the battery mostly drops across the depletion region and the voltage drops across the p-side and n-side of the p-n junction is negligibly small.
  • In forward biasing the forward voltage opposes the potential barrier Vbi. As a result, the potential barrier height is reduced and the width of the depletion layer decreases.
  • As forward voltage is increased, at a particular value the depletion region becomes very much narrow such that a large number of majority charge carriers can cross the junction.

 

Reversed Bias:

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  • When reverse biased, more charge carriers are depleted, resulting in the widening of the depletion region. 
  • This increases the opposing electric field for the diffusion carriers and does not allow them to cross the junction, offering a high resistance 

 

This can also be understood with the VI characteristic of a p-n junction diode:

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Related Questions

Assertion (A): A p-n junction has high resistance in reverse direction.Reason (R): When a reverse bias is applied to p-n junction, the width of depletion layer increases.
Assertion (A): A p-n junction has high resistance in reverse direction.
Reason (R): When a reverse bias is applied to p-n junction, the width of depletion layer increases.