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 0.003 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]
08.2896206650111E-11
-0.56.625071286954E-11
-15.6782841867488E-11
-1.55.0478199025891E-11
-24.5894322127017E-11
-2.54.2368309501805E-11
-33.9547269070897E-11
-3.53.722379770423E-11
-43.5266957895574E-11
-4.53.358947372997E-11
-53.2130634992483E-11
-5.53.0846729854825E-11
-62.9705377613063E-11
-6.52.8682011896377E-11
-72.7757612061208E-11
-7.52.6917190879369E-11
-82.6148757541015E-11
-8.52.544258894429E-11
-92.4790706501354E-11
-9.52.4186493295897E-11
-102.3624409161576E-11