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Use this schematic to test the diodes. You can easily distinguish Silicon and Germanium Diodes. Silicon diodes should read approx 0.7V and Germanium diodes should read 0.3V. A little difficult to distinguish Schottky diodes though. They should show approx 0.2V which is close to 0.3V.
A germanium diode is a type of semiconductor diode that utilizes germanium (Ge) as its primary material. Diodes are electronic components that allow current to flow in one direction, known as the forward direction, while blocking current in the reverse direction.
A germanium diode is a type of semiconductor device that allows current to flow in one direction while blocking it in the opposite direction. Like all diodes, it has two electrodes: an anode and a cathode. The distinctive feature of germanium diodes is the semiconductor material from which they are made—germanium.
Germanium diodes and silicon diodes are both types of semiconductor diodes commonly used in electronic circuits. However, they differ in several aspects. Germanium diodes have a lower forward voltage drop compared to silicon diodes, making them more suitable for low voltage applications.
Crystal diode technology can be traced back to the early 1900s, when hand-adjusted silicon detectors were first used with the new wireless devices to detect radio signals. Within a few years germanium/galena “cat-whiskers” were being used by amateur radio enthusiasts and in early commercial radios.
If you need changes based on temperature differences, germanium diodes may be the better fit. So there are reasons why silicon diodes have largely replaced germanium diodes. But now let's talk about the advantages of germanium diodes and why you would use them in circuits you build.
Germanium diodes have a forward voltage of approximately 0.3 volts. The maximum reverse-bias voltage that a diode can withstand without “breaking down” is called the Peak Inverse Voltage , or PIV rating.
A germanium-based diode might be lower, around 0.3V. The type of diode also has some importance in defining the forward voltage drop; light-emitting diodes can have a much larger V F , while Schottky diodes are designed specifically to have a much lower-than-usual forward voltage.
Explore our comprehensive blog post that examines the pros and cons of utilizing Germanium in electronic devices. Understand its unique properties, benefits for high-speed circuits, limitations, and how it compares to other semiconductors like silicon.
The chief difference between germanium and silicon diodes is the voltage at which electric current begins to flow freely across the diode. A germanium diode typically begins to conduct electric current when voltage properly applied across the diode reaches 0.3 volts.