Breakdown voltage is the minimum voltage that must be applied across an insulating material or a semiconductor before it can conduct electricity. When the voltage across an insulator or a semiconductor exceeds its breakdown voltage, the material becomes conductive and allows current to flow through it. This is because the electric field generated by the voltage causes the insulator or semiconductor to ionize, which means that electrons are stripped from the atoms in the material, creating free charge carriers that can conduct electricity. The breakdown voltage can depend on various factors, including the material properties, thickness of the material, and temperature. It is an important parameter in the design and operation of electronic devices, such as diodes, transistors, and power supplies.
