1N60 diode is germanium or silicon?

Thread Starter

upand_at_them

Joined May 15, 2010
940
If I put "1N60 diode" in the googler, it comes up "germanium". But Tayda Electronics list a "1N60 Schottky diode", whose datasheet's only reference to construction says "Silicon epitaxial planar". Does the 1N60 come in both flavors? Does "Schottky" always mean one or the other?
 

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
21,158
The 1N60 is/was a germanium diode. It is not a Schottky diode.
I guess if you nail two things together you can call it whatever you want. I don't think such companies give much of a care for standards and second sourcing. I would say that this raises the premium on knowing your suppliers. Thanks to the TS for raising this curious conundrum.
 

Thread Starter

upand_at_them

Joined May 15, 2010
940
So if I just buy some of these with my next order, can I determine that it's germanium by the forward voltage? If it's less than 0.6V it must be germanium?
 

schmitt trigger

Joined Jul 12, 2010
868
There are many threads how to distinguish a Germanium from a Schottky diode.

It involves reverse current. At 25C, Germanium usually has perhaps two or three orders of magnitude higher reverse current as compared to a Schottky.
And it gets worse with higher temperature!!

Check this video, for instance:

 
Last edited:

DickCappels

Joined Aug 21, 2008
10,153
I like the reverse leakage method. The temperature coefficient of junction voltage is also very different between the two.

The 1n60P is a fine Schottky diode. I have used it on a few projects thought I suspect the 1N60 (not P) version of the diode would make a better high frequency detector.

In 1961 I drove the staff at Sunnyvale Electronics nuts by pestering them all afternoon one day trying to find the optimum diode for a crystal set. They eventually (at the cost of great agitation) sold me a 1N34 diode, which after buying I brought back asking if it was really the most sensitive. I do not remember what I did with that diode, so it must have not been that important after all.
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Thread Starter

upand_at_them

Joined May 15, 2010
940
That video from schmitt trigger nailed it. I got the same results. It's a 1N60P Schottky diode. To be fair, Tayda Electronics doesn't advertise it as germanium. They do have 1N34 germanium diodes, but those could be the same fake 1N34 germanium ones tested in the video. I'll order some next time.
 

Boatman47

Joined Jan 22, 2021
11
As a newcomer I have a question about germanium versus Schottky diode choice. If the key advantage in the Schottky is the low forward voltage and since it is more resistant to leak, why is it necessary to find a germanium diode for the purpose if the same forward voltage can be obtained?
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
34,280
As a newcomer I have a question about germanium versus Schottky diode choice. If the key advantage in the Schottky is the low forward voltage and since it is more resistant to leak, why is it necessary to find a germanium diode for the purpose if the same forward voltage can be obtained?
Generally you can use the Schottky.
But if it's an old circuit that specifies a germanium diode, then it would be best to use that.
 

Ian0

Joined Aug 7, 2020
9,667
I can understand why you might be confused:
https://www.nikom.biz/pdf/1N60_DEC.pdf
The first ten words of the datasheet say "Germanium diode. Features: metal silicon junction, majority carrier conduction".
I think I'd steer clear of the 1N60 and choose a 1N34 if I wanted germanium and a BAT42 if I wanted schottky.
I suppose it is hypothetically possible to make a germanium schottky diode, as schottky refers to a metal-semiconductor junction.
As the 1N and 2N numbers were just allocated in numerical order, generally anything with a low number is germanium.
 

DickCappels

Joined Aug 21, 2008
10,153
Simple: The part number was re-used by another manufacturer. The parts are similar but the temperature coefficient of the forward bias volts is different between Si and Ge.
 

Ian0

Joined Aug 7, 2020
9,667
Simple: The part number was re-used by another manufacturer. The parts are similar but the temperature coefficient of the forward bias volts is different between Si and Ge.
doesn't that rather defeat the object of part numbers? Why not call all small diodes 1N60?
A 1N4148 is also similar, but with a different forward voltage drop and temperature coefficient.
 

DickCappels

Joined Aug 21, 2008
10,153
Let's not compare our ideal with what is. Tomato, tomahto, potato, potahto...

It is what is it, No point in arguing about what is vs what should be.
 
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