Physics of Semiconductor Devices

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Capacitance-Voltage Characteristics

The capacitance of a pn junction depends on the width W of the depletion layer.

If the junction is heavily p-doped then it will be an asymmetric p+n junction where Na >> Nd. In this case the total depletion width is approximately equal to the depletion width on just the n-side of the junction.

To experimentally characterize a pn-junction, often the capacitance is measured as a function of the applied voltage. For an abrupt p+n junction, a plot of 1/Cj² versus V is a straight line. The formula can be determined from the above two equations. The slope and intercept of this line give the doping concentration and built-in potential.

The capacitance-voltage characteristic of a silicon p+n-junction with an area of 0.006 cm² is measured. The results of this measurement are shown in the table on the right.

What is the doping concentration and the built-in potential?

Nd = 1/cm³

Vbi = V

The dielectric constant of silicon is εr = 11.9.

     
voltage [V]  capacitance [F]
02.8809408400645E-11
-0.52.2205996163236E-11
-11.8728182871213E-11
-1.51.6497538944511E-11
-21.4911584714963E-11
-2.51.3709670425337E-11
-31.2758241147471E-11
-3.51.1980859635671E-11
-41.1330205823018E-11
-4.51.0775210918604E-11
-51.0294520619499E-11
-5.59.872909048826E-12
-69.4991883351769E-12
-6.59.164928453416E-12
-78.8636405357629E-12
-7.58.5902375678326E-12
-88.3406675887639E-12
-8.58.111657761538E-12
-97.9005317673853E-12
-9.57.7050769241742E-12
-107.5234457804676E-12