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]
01.5805349351664E-11
-0.51.2429888838926E-11
-11.0575205062857E-11
-1.59.3613047341447E-12
-28.4878640834005E-12
-2.57.8206707592928E-12
-37.2895421184207E-12
-3.56.8537418240577E-12
-46.4877890406832E-12
-4.56.1748204914667E-12
-55.9031724128258E-12
-5.55.6644856917248E-12
-65.4525919526087E-12
-6.55.2628266596171E-12
-75.0915883502686E-12
-7.54.9360461308083E-12
-84.7939398838756E-12
-8.54.6634403477921E-12
-94.5430489570496E-12
-9.54.4315247454957E-12
-104.3278300744E-12