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]
05.800880390371E-11
-0.54.5639296845273E-11
-13.8836669140305E-11
-1.53.4382368333359E-11
-23.1176517910576E-11
-2.52.8727245405736E-11
-32.6777224936918E-11
-3.52.5177049675625E-11
-42.383324329738E-11
-4.52.26839320342E-11
-52.168631387073E-11
-5.52.0809710221512E-11
-62.0031480526472E-11
-6.51.9334502584215E-11
-71.8705555530517E-11
-7.51.8134246619607E-11
-81.7612278103043E-11
-8.51.7132933759741E-11
-91.6690711311601E-11
-9.51.6281054141551E-11
-101.5900152091647E-11