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]
07.8160470238841E-11
-0.56.2286061990368E-11
-15.3312909684116E-11
-1.54.7356564707172E-11
-24.3034244268434E-11
-2.53.9713733469215E-11
-33.7059587745269E-11
-3.53.4875115589702E-11
-43.30363560578E-11
-4.53.1460793706736E-11
-53.0091090882879E-11
-5.52.8885999942132E-11
-62.7814987725926E-11
-6.52.6854903742397E-11
-72.59878330154E-11
-7.52.519966595001E-11
-82.4479118402329E-11
-8.52.3817043510464E-11
-92.3205937886002E-11
-9.52.2639580454437E-11
-102.2112763790514E-11