Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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 0.009 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]
05.1327686354401E-11
-0.54.0049368456062E-11
-13.3955005316332E-11
-1.52.9998368531776E-11
-22.7165109317999E-11
-2.52.500778602852E-11
-32.3294335028933E-11
-3.52.1890824072288E-11
-42.0713828790585E-11
-4.51.9708316832156E-11
-51.8836321703783E-11
-5.51.8070690587707E-11
-61.7391421531108E-11
-6.51.678341114165E-11
-71.6235012760826E-11
-7.51.5737081559041E-11
-81.528232343249E-11
-8.51.4864839707125E-11
-91.4479801658549E-11
-9.51.4123213256174E-11
-101.3791735194657E-11