Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Chemistry / Physical Chemistry / What is the Difference Between Diffusion Current and Drift Current

What is the Difference Between Diffusion Current and Drift Current

June 3, 2022 Posted by Madhu

The key difference between diffusion current and drift current is that diffusion current forms due to the diffusion of charge carriers, whereas drift current forms due to the motion of charge carriers caused by force exerted on the charges by an electric field.

Diffusion current and drift current are two types of current passing mechanisms that use different mechanisms to produce a current.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Diffusion Current 
3. What is a Drift Current
4. Diffusion Current vs Drift Current in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Diffusion Current vs Drift Current

What is Diffusion Current?

Diffusion current or diffusion current density is a type of current in a semiconductor that is caused by the diffusion of charge carriers. The charge carriers in this context are holes and electrons. This type of current forms due to the transport of charges occurring in non-uniform concentrations of charge particles in a semiconductor. Moreover, diffusion current can be in either the same or the opposite directions of a drift current according to the drift-diffusion equation.

Diffusion Current vs Drift Current in Tabular Form

Figure 1: Formation of Diffusion Current Occurs due to the Diffusion of Charge Carriers

When considering a semiconductor device, the current close to the depletion region of a p-n junction is mostly diffusion current. However, inside the depletion region, we can observe both types of currents (diffusion and drift currents). Furthermore, at the equilibrium in a p-n junction, we can observe that the forward diffusion current in the depletion region is balanced with the drift reverse drift current. Therefore, there is no net current.

What is Drift Current?

Drift current can be described as a type of current in a semiconductor that is caused by force exerted on the charge carriers by an electric field. This external force is often known as electromotive force. Moreover, drift velocity can be described as the average velocity of the charge carriers in the drift current. The term drift current is mostly useful in the context of electrons and holes in semiconductors. However, this same concept can be applied to metals, electrolytes, etc.

During the creation of a drift current, the charged particles are pushed by the electric field. Electrons are negatively charged, and they get pushed in the opposite direction to the electric field. This results in conventional current points in the same direction.

What is the Difference Between Diffusion Current and Drift Current?

Diffusion and drift current are two types of electric currents that are formed due to different methods of the current movement. The key difference between diffusion current and drift current is that diffusion current forms due to the diffusion of charge carriers, whereas the drift current forms due to the motion of charge carriers caused by force exerted on the charges by an electric field. Moreover, Diffusion current obeys the Fick’s law while drift current obeys the Ohm’s law. In addition, when considering the direction of the current, diffusion current depends on the slope of the carrier concentration, while drift current is always in the direction of the electric field.

The below infographic presents the differences between diffusion current and drift current in tabular form for side by side comparison

Summary – Diffusion Current vs Drift Current

Diffusion current and drift current are two types of current passing mechanisms that use different mechanisms to produce current. The key difference between diffusion current and drift current is that diffusion current forms due to the diffusion of charge carriers, whereas the drift current forms due to the motion of charge carriers caused by force exerted on the charges by an electric field.

Reference:

1. Shaik, Asif. “Diffusion Current.” Physics and Radio Electronics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Simple Diffusion” By Elizabeth2424 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Difference Between Nucleation and Particle GrowthDifference Between Nucleation and Particle Growth Difference Between Fission and FragmentationDifference Between Fission and Fragmentation Difference Between Electromagnetic Wave and Matter WaveDifference Between Electromagnetic Wave and Matter Wave Difference Between QED and QCDDifference Between QED and QCD Difference Between Single Electrode Potential and Standard Electrode PotentialDifference Between Single Electrode Potential and Standard Electrode Potential

Filed Under: Physical Chemistry

About the Author: Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Mission and Goal

Difference Between Lowland and Mountain Gorillas

Difference Between Polar and Nonpolar Covalent Bonds

Difference Between iTunes and App Store

Difference Between iTunes and App Store

Difference Between Rules and Regulations

Difference Between Rules and Regulations

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Symptom and Syndrome
  • What is the Difference Between Platelet Plug and Blood Clot
  • What is the Difference Between Agglutination and Hemagglutination
  • What is the Difference Between Fullerene and Carbon Nanotubes
  • What is the Difference Between Dialysis and Kidney Transplant
  • What is the Difference Between Kidney Stones and Appendicitis
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.