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]
05.1826804291868E-10
-0.54.1591741324838E-10
-13.5717568325369E-10
-1.53.1787952154208E-10
-22.8922840013353E-10
-2.52.6714751948685E-10
-32.4945716742297E-10
-3.52.3487190867706E-10
-42.2257816587763E-10
-4.52.1203258690436E-10
-52.0285661661519E-10
-5.51.9477734302661E-10
-61.8759238344108E-10
-6.51.8114805680485E-10
-71.753252825577E-10
-7.51.7003016869151E-10
-81.651875509842E-10
-8.51.6073644866179E-10
-91.5662679897998E-10
-9.51.5281706602245E-10
-101.492724599326E-10