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 0.002 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]
02.0650291661335E-11
-0.51.6165591543413E-11
-11.3725391036683E-11
-1.51.2135844526917E-11
-21.0995350210219E-11
-2.51.0125804174288E-11
-39.4345213553862E-12
-3.58.8678846800098E-12
-48.3924393347479E-12
-4.57.9860870331923E-12
-57.63356627324E-12
-5.57.3239530231946E-12
-67.0491944521461E-12
-6.56.8032062598925E-12
-76.5812942660253E-12
-7.56.3797710185494E-12
-86.1956941917634E-12
-8.56.0266835425569E-12
-95.8707899855027E-12
-9.55.7264001101524E-12
-105.592165332593E-12