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 0.003 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]
02.4146170812471E-10
-0.51.9404280877249E-10
-11.6674632587737E-10
-1.51.4845778285092E-10
-21.3511087085932E-10
-2.51.2481807429427E-10
-31.1656806748503E-10
-3.51.0976375893688E-10
-41.0402691401935E-10
-4.59.9104758912726E-11
-59.4821091858436E-11
-5.59.1048828489679E-11
-68.7693693060367E-11
-6.58.4684074541579E-11
-78.196447018022E-11
-7.57.9491107488717E-11
-87.7228937887902E-11
-8.57.5149521436038E-11
-97.3229506433388E-11
-9.57.144951578804E-11
-106.9793317488269E-11