advantages of silicon over germanium diodes (july 2019)

Silicon diodes have several advantages over germanium diodes:

1. Higher voltage rating: Silicon diodes can typically handle higher voltage levels than germanium diodes, which makes them more suitable for use in high-voltage circuits.
2. Lower forward voltage drop: The forward voltage drop of a diode is the voltage drop across the diode when it is conducting current. Silicon diodes have a lower forward voltage drop than germanium diodes, which makes them more efficient and allows them to pass more current.
3. Higher temperature range: Silicon diodes are more stable and reliable at higher temperatures than germanium diodes, which makes them more suitable for use in high-temperature environments.
4. Better switching performance: Silicon diodes have faster switching speeds than germanium diodes, which makes them more suitable for use in high-frequency circuits.
5. Greater availability: Silicon is more abundant and easier to obtain than germanium, which makes it easier to manufacture silicon diodes in large quantities.