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 0.009 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]
07.6634711348944E-11
-0.56.0324561811709E-11
-15.1344923547226E-11
-1.54.5461972222634E-11
-24.1226531438843E-11
-2.53.7989957042848E-11
-33.5412720568399E-11
-3.53.3297611874318E-11
-43.152121165874E-11
-4.53.0001808546905E-11
-52.8682867812455E-11
-5.52.7523862161199E-11
-62.6494879259735E-11
-6.52.5573295302424E-11
-72.4741639897357E-11
-7.52.3986178795672E-11
-82.3295945632802E-11
-8.52.266206370107E-11
-92.2077260374458E-11
-9.52.1535512682479E-11
-102.10317841266E-11