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 0.008 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]
01.5791859710752E-10
-0.51.257398153566E-10
-11.0758336082598E-10
-1.59.5542180710613E-11
-28.6809142018348E-11
-2.58.0102713852968E-11
-37.4743581039055E-11
-3.57.0333685851506E-11
-46.6622284654723E-11
-4.56.344253226004E-11
-56.0678528106192E-11
-5.55.8246916301709E-11
-65.6086006303755E-11
-6.55.4149032058836E-11
-75.2399809173419E-11
-7.55.0809843025552E-11
-84.9356347654657E-11
-8.54.8020854755276E-11
-94.6788215695523E-11
-9.54.5645871722021E-11
-104.458331113872E-11