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]
01.1864760196557E-10
-0.59.4410088123975E-11
-18.0753399718044E-11
-1.57.1702765735782E-11
-26.514145229451E-11
-2.56.010421335947E-11
-35.6079763737519E-11
-3.55.2768659310613E-11
-44.9982346516654E-11
-4.54.7595398363244E-11
-54.552070621404E-11
-5.54.369563335234E-11
-64.2073830582702E-11
-6.54.0620166467666E-11
-73.9307461821229E-11
-7.53.8114315613468E-11
-83.7023615828972E-11
-8.53.6021494035282E-11
-93.5096575427409E-11
-9.53.4239430467081E-11
-103.3442167052177E-11