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 0.001 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]
04.6707019253078E-12
-0.53.6400669310737E-12
-13.084549436713E-12
-1.52.7243255609543E-12
-22.4665609845588E-12
-2.52.2703843993627E-12
-32.1146237854877E-12
-3.51.9870702630754E-12
-41.8801238012118E-12
-4.51.7887732841834E-12
-51.7095628741239E-12
-5.51.640021786876E-12
-61.5783303971127E-12
-6.51.5231150075879E-12
-71.4733165150355E-12
-7.51.4281034548476E-12
-81.3868127255843E-12
-8.51.3489081486782E-12
-91.3139508495505E-12
-9.51.281577670922E-12
-101.2514851648082E-12