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 0.002 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]
01.8058777218628E-10
-0.51.4566999604973E-10
-11.254040850821E-10
-1.51.1176811661881E-10
-21.017905601855E-10
-2.59.4082445683453E-11
-38.7896195577997E-11
-3.58.2789025534805E-11
-47.8479779765666E-11
-4.57.4780214453758E-11
-57.1558915831612E-11
-5.56.8720987836015E-11
-66.6195962095346E-11
-6.56.3930265691252E-11
-76.1882346007933E-11
-7.56.001941153933E-11
-85.8315191529408E-11
-8.55.6748358248391E-11
-95.530139207802E-11
-9.55.3959749646797E-11
-105.2711243800404E-11