Department of Physics

Amity Institute of Applied Sciences

AIM: -
To study the I-V characteristics of various Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and estimate their
threshold voltage (VTH)

Apparatus required: -
1. LEDs (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue)
2. DC Voltmeter (0 – 3 V, least count 0.05 V)
3. DC Mili-ammeter (0 – 5 mA, least count 0.1 mA)
4. Connecting Wires
5. DC Power Supply (0-3 V DC)

Theory: -
A Light Emitting Diode (LED, see Fig 1) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an
electric current passes through it. Unlike incandescent bulbs that heat a filament to produce
light, LEDs convert electrical energy into light energy much more efficiently. This makes them
a popular choice for a variety of applications, including lighting, electronics, and displays.
The working principle of an LED is based on a concept called electroluminescence. Here's a
breakdown of the process:
 P-N Junction: An LED is made from a special type of material called a semiconductor.
A p-n junction is created by doping a small region of a semiconductor with impurities,
creating a p-type region with positive charge carriers (holes) and an n-type region with
negative charge carriers (electrons). [See Fig. 2]

Figure 1: Schema c of a LED

 Forward Bias: When a voltage is applied to the LED in the forward bias direction
(positive voltage to the anode and negative voltage to the cathode), electrons in the n-
type region and holes in the p-type region are pushed towards the junction. [see Fig. 2
& Fig. 3]
  Electron-Hole Recombination: As the electrons and holes meet at the junction, they
recombine. When an electron fills a hole, it falls to a lower energy level. The energy
difference between the two levels is released as a packet of light energy called a photon.
[see Fig. 2]
 Light Emission: The color of the light emitted by the LED depends on the energy gap
between the electron energy levels in the semiconductor material. Different materials
produce different wavelengths of light, corresponding to different colors. [see Fig. 2]
 Light Emitting Package: The LED chip is encapsulated in a protective epoxy package
with a transparent window that allows the light to escape. [see Fig. 2]

Figure 2: LED working principle with details for the semiconductor p-n junc on deple on region

LED Biasing:-
It's important to understand that LEDs are current-driven devices. Unlike an incandescent bulb
that has a fixed resistance and will operate at a specific current when connected to a particular
voltage, the current through an LED will vary depending on the voltage applied. If too much
voltage is applied, the LED can be damaged. To prevent this, a current-limiting resistor is
typically placed in series with the LED to control the current flow.

Applications of LEDs:-
LEDs have a wide range of applications due to their many advantages, including:
Energy Efficiency: LEDs are significantly more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs. They
can produce the same amount of light using a fraction of the power.
Long Lifespan: LEDs have a much longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs. They can last for
tens of thousands of hours, compared to just a few thousand hours for incandescent bulbs.
Durability: LEDs are more durable than incandescent bulbs because they are made from solid-
state materials. They are resistant to shock and vibration.
Versatility: LEDs are available in a wide range of colors, sizes, and shapes. This makes them
ideal for a variety of applications.
Environmentally Friendly: LEDs do not contain mercury or other harmful materials, making
them a more environmentally friendly lighting option.
With their many advantages, LEDs are poised to continue to revolutionize the lighting industry
and beyond.

Figure 3: the required circuit diagram

Procedure: -
1. Connect the 0-3 V DC supply to input sockets. (Red Terminal to Red Terminal & Black
Terminal to Black Terminal)
2. Connect the Voltmeter & Mili-ammeter to the circuit
3. Switch ON the instrument using ON/OFF toggle switch provided on front panel.
4. Keep output potentiometer fully anti clock wise.
5. Vary the input voltage in small steps of 0.1V & note down the corresponding current
6. Four different types of LED are given for different set of Readings.
7. Plot the graph between voltage v/s current
8. From the slope I-V characteristics, estimate the value of VTH [see Fig. 4].
 Figure 4: I-V characteris cs for different LEDs

Observations: -

S. No. RED YELLOW GREEN BLUE

Voltage Current Voltage Current Voltage Current Voltage Current

1.

2.

Result: -
I-V characteristics for various LEDs have been plotted and from the plot the estimated values
of VTH are:
For Red: VTH = *.** ± 0.** Volts
For Green: VTH = *.** ± 0.** Volts
For Yellow: VTH = *.** ± 0.** Volts
For Blue: VTH = *.** ± 0.** Volts

References:
1. https://www.electroduino.com/led-light-emitting-diode/
2. Practical Physics by K. K. Dey & B. N. Dutta