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]
01.0257470173816E-11
-0.58.0502059376103E-12
-16.8427146471338E-12
-1.56.0540973008095E-12
-25.4873867271558E-12
-2.55.0548632466142E-12
-34.7107563738738E-12
-3.54.4285397011671E-12
-44.191639374315E-12
-4.53.9890962366886E-12
-53.8133354019794E-12
-5.53.6589311785399E-12
-63.5218816842558E-12
-6.53.3991618738114E-12
-73.2884369086637E-12
-7.53.1878720442713E-12
-83.0960028360215E-12
-8.53.0116442773778E-12
-92.9338257814374E-12
-9.52.8617437452442E-12
-102.7947263403437E-12