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 0.003 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]
05.1507091380844E-11
-0.54.0946762427112E-11
-13.500851989564E-11
-1.53.107708978077E-11
-22.8228727256768E-11
-2.52.6042891619197E-11
-32.4297060046656E-11
-3.52.2861004085463E-11
-42.1652766655748E-11
-4.52.0617852526776E-11
-51.9718427734357E-11
-5.51.8927294731662E-11
-61.8224332814429E-11
-6.51.7594293994641E-11
-71.7025383738151E-11
-7.51.6508316307685E-11
-81.6035667872185E-11
-8.51.5601422457862E-11
-91.5200646287594E-11
-9.51.482924969841E-11
-101.4483810098154E-11