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]
05.840784506884E-11
-0.54.5723197608957E-11
-13.8821268305903E-11
-1.53.4325351841636E-11
-23.1099546780668E-11
-2.52.8640099186426E-11
-32.6684856110571E-11
-3.52.5082165568061E-11
-42.3737403057188E-11
-4.52.2588065185265E-11
-52.159098590578E-11
-5.52.071526739117E-11
-61.993813279606E-11
-6.51.9242373120723E-11
-71.8614711217962E-11
-7.51.8044717398535E-11
-81.7524069508616E-11
-8.51.7046035204029E-11
-91.6605101638684E-11
-9.51.6196705398704E-11
-101.5817032112771E-11