Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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]
02.1460972390062E-10
-0.51.7135049474025E-10
-11.4679632252327E-10
-1.51.3046312053636E-10
-21.1859553512621E-10
-2.51.0947073259474E-10
-31.0217259391628E-10
-3.59.6163115521321E-11
-49.1102843328909E-11
-4.58.6765617427618E-11
-58.2994174733923E-11
-5.57.9675317871289E-11
-67.6725213380547E-11
-6.57.4080272234305E-11
-77.1691269026965E-11
-7.56.9519422795239E-11
-86.753371028887E-11
-8.56.5708978380924E-11
-96.4024589087935E-11
-9.56.2463428242839E-11
-106.1011167834237E-11