Economical diffused junction silicon varistors

Useful junction diodes in certain performance ranges may be fabricated from low grade silicon material by diffusion in non-critical environments. The devices thus made, whiIe not as versatile as those obtained when the most careful attention is given to purity of material and process, show promise of several fields of application in the lower voltage ranges. Representative diffusion processes are discussed, and results using several silicon material sources are considered.