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]
02.7806757401462E-11
-0.52.1736998278466E-11
-11.8444251602385E-11
-1.51.6302468271762E-11
-21.4767069719672E-11
-2.51.3597106954407E-11
-31.2667374557872E-11
-3.51.1905516610973E-11
-41.1266419914876E-11
-4.51.0720302531236E-11
-51.0246605901855E-11
-5.59.8306199009346E-12
-69.4615040714818E-12
-6.59.1310700666746E-12
-78.8330017956241E-12
-7.58.5623386944764E-12
-88.3151232527158E-12
-8.58.0881544531416E-12
-97.8788114578854E-12
-9.57.6849250508724E-12
-107.5046822657216E-12