Chapter 1 covers the fundamentals of semiconductor diodes, including their operating conditions (no bias, reverse bias, and forward bias), characteristics of p-n junctions, and the concept of doping with n-type and p-type materials. It also discusses other diode types like Zener and LED, along with diode applications and circuit configurations for rectification. The chapter emphasizes the characteristics, behavior under different bias conditions, and practical applications of diodes in electronic circuits.