Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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 0.004 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]
03.1896494981079E-11
-0.52.4998070391762E-11
-12.1235379562314E-11
-1.51.8781471988523E-11
-21.7019567142933E-11
-2.51.5675613794862E-11
-31.4606825377048E-11
-3.51.3730533223858E-11
-41.2995123994812E-11
-4.51.2366488906966E-11
-51.1821062977764E-11
-5.51.1341973497464E-11
-61.091677932849E-11
-6.51.0536078591867E-11
-71.0192616195505E-11
-7.59.8806920981394E-12
-89.5957574435605E-12
-8.59.3341319122212E-12
-99.0928015132201E-12
-9.58.8692710898807E-12
-108.6614548616405E-12