Forward biasing a diode allows current to flow through the diode, making it conductive and allowing it to function as a switch or amplifier in electronic circuits.
Forward biasing decreases the diode's resistance, causing an increase in current as voltage increases. This relationship is typically exponential, with a small change in voltage resulting in a large change in current.
When a diode is forward biased, the depletion region (the area between the p-type and n-type materials) becomes thinner, allowing current to flow through the diode. Electrons from the n-type material flow towards the positive voltage, while holes from the p-type material flow towards the negative voltage.
The forward voltage drop of a diode is the amount of voltage required to forward bias the diode and allow current to flow. This voltage drop varies depending on the type of diode and can range from 0.3V to 0.7V for silicon diodes.
Increasing temperature can cause the forward voltage drop of a diode to decrease, resulting in a larger current for the same voltage. This is due to an increase in the number of charge carriers in the diode's materials, resulting in a lower resistance and easier flow of current.
