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 0.008 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]
02.3687789566128E-10
-0.51.8860972303491E-10
-11.6137504123897E-10
-1.51.4331327106592E-10
-21.3021371302752E-10
-2.51.2015407077945E-10
-31.1211537155858E-10
-3.51.0550052877726E-10
-49.9933426982085E-11
-4.59.516379839006E-11
-59.1017792159289E-11
-5.58.7370374452563E-11
-68.4129009455633E-11
-6.58.1223548088253E-11
-77.8599713760128E-11
-7.57.6214764538328E-11
-87.4034521481986E-11
-8.57.2031282132915E-11
-97.0182323543285E-11
-9.56.8468807583032E-11
-106.6874966708081E-11