The PN junction within a diode is the critical component that allows electrical current to flow in only one direction. This unidirectional flow occurs due to the properties of the P-type material, which contains "holes," and the N-type material, which has "free electrons." When these two materials are joined, the resulting electric field at the junction prevents current from flowing in the reverse direction. Understanding these principles is essential for grasping the functionality of diodes in electronic circuits.
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Yes.Etherealist said:Is the PN junction inside a diode what makes the electrical current only flow in one direction and not in the opposite direction?
What have you found so far in your Google searching? There are a lot of resources on the net that explain this. What is your background in EE and solid state physics? The level of our replies will depend on your reading so far and your background, so we can try to do our best in our replies. Thanks.Etherealist said:If this is so, why does it happen?