What are the main characteristics of Schottky diodes

From the characteristics of Schottky diodes, we find that they have their advantages, but they also have their drawbacks. Below is a specific analysis for everyone.

Advantage 1: We all know that the Schottky barrier height is lower than the PN junction barrier height, so its forward conduction threshold voltage and forward voltage drop are lower than those of PN junction diodes (about 0.2V lower).

Advantage 2: Because Schottky diodes are majority carrier conducting devices, there are no issues with minority carrier lifetime and reverse recovery. The reverse recovery time of SBD is only the charging and discharging time of Schottky barrier capacitors, which is completely different from the reverse recovery time of PN junction diodes. Due to the very low reverse recovery charge of SBD, the switching speed is very fast and the switching loss is particularly small, making it particularly suitable for high-frequency applications.

Disadvantages: Due to the thin reverse barrier of Schottky diodes and the high risk of breakdown on their surface, the reverse breakdown voltage is relatively low. Due to SBD being more prone to thermal breakdown than PN diodes, the reverse leakage current is greater than that of PN diodes.

The advantages of Schottky diodes are obvious, but there are also certain drawbacks. When purchasing, be sure to buy according to your own requirements.