- #1
SpartanG345
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When a PN juction is in the open circuit condition, my textbooks says the following.
"The voltage measured between the terminals is zero. That is the junction Voltage Vo does not appear across between the diode terminals.This is because of the contact voltages existing at the metal-semiconductor junctions at the diode terminals, which counter and exactly balance the barrier voltage."
Otherwise the there would be a violation of the conservation of energy.
I am not sure what this means
if the anode is at 0v and the cathode is at 0v what are the "contact voltages existing at the metal-semiconductor junctions at the diode terminals"?