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 0.007 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]
05.0771887024067E-11
-0.53.9846486459027E-11
-13.386970950099E-11
-1.52.9966252787559E-11
-22.7161178560354E-11
-2.52.5020296557561E-11
-32.3317054435387E-11
-3.52.1920153174144E-11
-42.0747556381067E-11
-4.51.9745018998378E-11
-51.8875047251749E-11
-5.51.8110785337683E-11
-61.7432424950318E-11
-6.51.682499287926E-11
-71.6276932263342E-11
-7.51.5779161580415E-11
-81.5324432199465E-11
-8.51.4906878637388E-11
-91.452169673412E-11
-9.51.4164908857962E-11
-101.3833189627724E-11