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]
05.438740145007E-11
-0.54.2880707100428E-11
-13.652396942795E-11
-1.53.23524017798E-11
-22.9346056881908E-11
-2.52.7047173862585E-11
-32.5215728930454E-11
-3.52.3712140985839E-11
-42.2448979288373E-11
-4.52.136831974045E-11
-52.0430063929161E-11
-5.51.9605454356782E-11
-61.8873257943694E-11
-6.51.8217410353077E-11
-71.762550321141E-11
-7.51.7087779508816E-11
-81.6596447017998E-11
-8.51.6145197216406E-11
-91.5728860762314E-11
-9.51.5343155960354E-11
-101.4984501939595E-11