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]
03.9512071378125E-11
-0.53.0830018211976E-11
-12.6138575279626E-11
-1.52.309275486276E-11
-22.0911710903083E-11
-2.51.9251002660537E-11
-31.7931987466064E-11
-3.51.6851564227891E-11
-41.594551283759E-11
-4.51.5171469371093E-11
-51.4500207208295E-11
-5.51.391082410034E-11
-61.3387922536767E-11
-6.51.2919875920736E-11
-71.2497718650347E-11
-7.51.2114411032495E-11
-81.1764338063455E-11
-8.51.1442958941826E-11
-91.1146556513834E-11
-9.51.0872054633699E-11
-101.0616882702969E-11