Properties of a p-n junction

The p-n junction possesses several interesting properties that have helpful applications in modern electronics. A p-doped semiconductor is comparatively conductive. The same is right of an n-doped semiconductor, but the junction among them can become depleted of charge carriers, and therefore nonconductive, depending upon the relative voltages of the two semiconductor regions.

Through manipulating this non-conductive layer, p-n junctions are generally employed as diodes: circuit elements which allow a flow of electricity in one direction but not in the other (reverse) direction. This property is described in terms of forward bias and reverse bias in which the term bias considers to an application of electric voltage to the p-n junction.