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 0.001 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]
05.6508160361141E-12
-0.54.4249701547806E-12
-13.7575311615655E-12
-1.53.3226239761725E-12
-23.0105209025035E-12
-2.52.772534742062E-12
-32.5833206147181E-12
-3.52.4282135868366E-12
-42.2980618538917E-12
-4.52.1868195093192E-12
-52.0903107159425E-12
-5.52.0055462075987E-12
-61.9303222482707E-12
-6.51.8629737146742E-12
-71.8022158624401E-12
-7.51.7470394348394E-12
-81.6966390867282E-12
-8.51.6503632996287E-12
-91.6076785558343E-12
-9.51.5681432096076E-12
-101.5313880987353E-12