The Schottky diode is a two terminal device which is used in various applications such as mixer, ac to dc converter. The Schottky barrier diode is also known as “ hot carrier diode” or “surface barrier diode”. Schottky diode is invented by Walter H. Schottky. It is an electronic component consisting of a thin wire that lightly toches a crystal of semiconducting mineral to make a crude point–contact rectifier.
Construction of a Schottky Diode
The Schottky diode is small different from PN junction diode. A metal semiconductor is formed between a metal and N type semiconductor. It is s unilateral device conducting currents in one direction and restricting in the other.
In Schottky diode the metals used are silver, platinum, gold and chrome or tungsten. The metal side acts as the anode and N type semiconductor acts as cathode. The Schottky diode is used in switch mode power supply (SMPS), AC to DC converters (ADC), RADAR systems and used in mixers and detectors.