Instead, it uses diodes or other switching elements to transfer charge between capacitors in stages. Each stage will effectively increase the voltage by the supply voltage — in theory.

You should be able to recognise the graph of current against voltage for a diode. The diode has a very high resistance in one direction. This means that current can only flow in the other direction.

This second course provides a more detailed description of high-voltage Schottky and p-n diodes, starting with the semiconductor physics background needed to analyze both types of diodes. The main ...