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 0.004 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]
02.634138091875E-11
-0.52.055334547465E-11
-11.7425716853084E-11
-1.51.5395169908507E-11
-21.3941140602055E-11
-2.51.2834001773691E-11
-31.1954658310709E-11
-3.51.1234376151927E-11
-41.0630341891726E-11
-4.51.0114312914062E-11
-59.66680480553E-12
-5.59.2738827335602E-12
-68.925281691178E-12
-6.58.6132506138237E-12
-78.3318124335644E-12
-7.58.0762740216634E-12
-87.842892042303E-12
-8.57.6286392945506E-12
-97.4310376758896E-12
-9.57.2480364224661E-12
-107.0779218019796E-12