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 0.004 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]
09.6969094745451E-11
-0.57.7132714103104E-11
-16.5964404647184E-11
-1.55.8565732339674E-11
-25.3203270146305E-11
-2.54.9087056760746E-11
-34.5798821945091E-11
-3.54.3093666360591E-11
-44.0817414250107E-11
-4.53.8867523464854E-11
-53.7172787959167E-11
-5.53.5682011368589E-11
-63.435731330187E-11
-6.53.3169983563734E-11
-73.2097812119923E-11
-7.53.1123311633602E-11
-83.0232500102943E-11
-8.52.9414046294047E-11
-92.8658656746313E-11
-9.52.7958627583124E-11
-102.7307511199325E-11