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 0.004 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]
02.1245676714816E-10
-0.51.7024867066631E-10
-11.4610175325752E-10
-1.51.2997482738637E-10
-21.1822838346979E-10
-2.51.0918177589636E-10
-31.0193754218416E-10
-3.59.5967070059567E-11
-49.093609440505E-11
-4.58.662153168519E-11
-58.2868046353534E-11
-5.57.9563703795806E-11
-67.6625528757686E-11
-6.57.3990533716383E-11
-77.1609926052751E-11
-7.56.9445243311203E-11
-86.7465701303251E-11
-8.56.564632946317E-11
-96.39666313731E-11
-9.56.2409604151837E-11
-106.0961008350112E-11