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 0.009 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]
06.6938475177828E-10
-0.55.3828874467603E-10
-14.6271390373888E-10
-1.54.1204094521311E-10
-23.7504292668488E-10
-2.53.465020716417E-10
-33.2362048126271E-10
-3.53.0474533397127E-10
-42.8882919157234E-10
-4.52.7517182453583E-10
-52.6328499501966E-10
-5.52.5281648978727E-10
-62.4350497809038E-10
-6.52.3515192558702E-10
-72.2760343668502E-10
-7.52.2073812739714E-10
-82.1445879619822E-10
-8.52.0868656272675E-10
-92.0335665427152E-10
-9.51.9841531914828E-10
-101.9381752727299E-10