(Updated for Playing the Zither and Playing the Phoenix!)
"There's another way, which is to convert alternating current to direct current!"
In the workshop, in Mo Lingwei's laboratory, Li Zexuan put down the pen and paper in his hand and said.
Mo Lingwei and Wang Ji were shocked when they heard this. Mo Lingwei asked, "Yamachō, how can alternating current be converted to direct current?"
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "Whether it's alternating current or direct current, they're both electricity, so of course they can be converted to each other! Using a rectifier circuit, alternating current can be converted to direct current. Using an inverter circuit, direct current can be converted to alternating current! However, the rectifier circuit requires a new electronic component — the rectifier diode. This diode has a unidirectional conductivity, so it can only pass current in one direction. With it, we can build a rectifier circuit! "
Mo Lingwei was immediately interested when she heard this. She quickly asked, "Yamachō, how do we make a rectifier diode? Can you teach me? "
The knowledgeable female professor of Yanhuang College in the eyes of others was now like an ignorant student, crazily absorbing knowledge from Li Zexuan.
Li Zexuan pondered for a moment and said, "The rectifier diode can be divided into electronic diodes and crystal diodes according to the materials used to make it. With our current conditions, we can try to make some electronic diodes! Ink Girl, Mr. Wang, I'll teach you the method of making electronic diodes today. You have to promise me that you won't leak it out. Otherwise, not only will the workshop suffer losses, Tang Dynasty will also suffer losses! "
At the end, Li Zexuan solemnly reminded Mo Lingwei and Wang Ji.
Electronic diodes, also known as vacuum diodes, were widely used in voltage regulation and rectifier circuits because of their unidirectional conductivity. Throughout the history of integrated circuit development, the invention of the electronic diode could be said to be the starting point of the human electronics industry. Therefore, Li Zexuan had to take this matter seriously.
In his previous life, after the invention of the electronic diode, the American inventor DeForest cleverly added a grid between the diode filament and the plate, creating the world's first electronic transistor. Since then, these electronic components sealed in "small glass bottles" have been widely used in various electronic products. For example, televisions, radios, loudspeakers, and other electronic products were all inseparable from diodes and triodes!
However, the defects of electronic diodes and electronic transistors were also obvious. They consumed a lot of power, generated a lot of heat, were large in size, and had a short life span. Therefore, people had been looking for new electronic devices to replace them. It wasn't until the birth of the transistor and the advent of solid state electronics technology that the electron tube was completely replaced!
In the 21st century, the diodes and transistors used in various countries around the world were actually transistors. Of course, there was another name for them, which was called semiconductor tubes, because they were all made of semiconductor materials such as silicon or germanium. With the current industrial foundation of the Tang Dynasty, first of all, purifying silicon or germanium was a problem. Secondly, the key structure of the semiconductor diode, the PN junction, was also a considerable problem.
The PN junction was made by using different doping processes. Through diffusion, P-type and N-type semiconductors were fabricated on the same semiconductor substrate. The space charge area formed at the junction of the two semiconductors was called the PN junction. The PN junction had unidirectional conductivity. N-type semiconductors were silicon crystals (or germanium crystals) doped with a small amount of phosphorus as an impurity, while P-type semiconductors were silicon crystals (or germanium crystals) doped with a small amount of boron as an impurity.
Li Zexuan didn't have any boron on hand, so he temporarily gave up on the idea of making a crystal diode!
"Yamachō, rest assured. What Yamachō said here today, I will not say a word to outsiders, even if I'm drunk!"
Wang Ji was the first to cup his hands and say this, but the latter half of the sentence made people not know whether to laugh or cry.
Speaking of which, although this old fellow was a drunkard, he wouldn't speak carelessly when he was drunk. This was quite reassuring.
"Yamachō, I won't say a word about what you said either. I … I guarantee it with my life!"
Hearing Li Zexuan and Wang Ji's solemn words, Mo Lingwei also became serious and said to Li Zexuan.
Li Zexuan nodded and said, "That's good! Next, I'll tell you how to make the electronic diode! "
As he spoke, Li Zexuan picked up a pen and paper again, sketching as he explained, "First, we'll seal two metal plates in the vacuum glass tube. Of course, we can also use the method we used to make the electric lamp. We just need to exhaust the oxygen in the glass tube. There's no need for a complete vacuum. After that, we'll add an alternating current to the anode plate, and a constant current will appear on the other plate! "
Mo Lingwei was somewhat puzzled and said, "Yamachō, what's the principle behind this?"
Li Zexuan thought for a moment and explained, "You see, when the potential of the anode is higher than the cathode, the electrons emitted by the cathode will move toward the anode under the influence of the electric field, forming a current of electrons. When the voltage of the cathode is higher than the anode, the electric field force on the electrons will pull them back to the cathode, and no current will be generated. That's why the electronic diode has a unidirectional conductivity and can be used for circuit rectification! "
In fact, this effect was called the "Edison Effect" in his previous life.
In 1883, Edison, in order to find the best filament material for electric light bulbs, placed a section of copper wire near the carbon filament in the vacuum bulb, hoping to prevent the carbon filament from evaporating. Although it failed, he inadvertently found that the copper wire, which was not connected to the circuit, produced a weak current due to receiving the hot electrons emitted by the carbon filament. Although Edison didn't study this phenomenon carefully, he applied for a patent for the "Edison Effect".
In 1896, when Fleming was researching how to improve the detector in a radiotelegraph receiver, he conceived of using the Edison Effect for wave detection. He sealed two metal plates in a vacuum glass tube and applied a high frequency alternating voltage to the anode plate. The Edison Effect appeared, and when the alternating current passed through the device, it was converted into direct current. Fleming called this tube with two electrodes a vacuum diode. It had both rectifying and detecting functions. This was the first electronic device in human history.
Li Zexuan wanted to make this kind of vacuum diode right now! Although he knew the principle behind it, he wasn't completely sure if he could make it in the end.
"Yamachō, I roughly understand! Overall, the structure of the electronic diode isn't complicated. Although it will take a lot of effort to make it, it's not impossible. Please let me try a few times! "
Mo Lingwei listened to Li Zexuan's explanation and thought for a long time before finally nodding.
Wang Ji also cupped his hands and said, "I roughly understand as well! I will definitely do my best to assist Ink Girl in making the electronic diode! "
Mo Lingwei's progress was directly related to whether his electrolysis workshop could continue operating normally. Of course, he was more concerned than anyone else!
Li Zexuan nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble the two of you! But in my opinion, the DC generator and the electronic diode can be made at the same time! The one that is made first will be put into use first, and the electrolysis workshop can start work earlier! "
To be on the safe side, Li Zexuan decided that he had to go all out and grab both hands! (I think he's driving, but I don't have evidence)
"Yes! Yamachō! "
The two of them cupped their hands and replied.
Li Zexuan nodded with satisfaction and thought to himself, With the diode, the triode won't be far away. When the time comes, many electrical appliances can be made. Tang Dynasty will soon enter the electronic age!
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