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Diodes are solid state electronic devices that function to allow electrical current flow in one direction only.
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When the positive pole (+) of the battery is connected to the p-side of the diode and the negative pole (-) of the battery is connected to the n-side of the diode, the positive “holes” of the p-type semiconductor and the positive pole of the battery repel each other. Likewise, the free electrons of the n-type semiconductor and the negative pole of the battery repel each other, thus pushing them towards the p-n junction. As a result, the free electrons and the positive holes attract each other, thus allowing current to flow across the p-n junction. |
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