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 0.003 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]
01.9532534321722E-11
-0.51.5308129253498E-11
-11.3003961105499E-11
-1.51.1501255747564E-11
-21.0422313785806E-11
-2.59.599313800586E-12
-38.944817233926E-12
-3.58.4082000736957E-12
-47.9578557328722E-12
-4.57.5728969329637E-12
-57.2388931282065E-12
-5.56.9455119362392E-12
-66.6851347473407E-12
-6.56.4520041099839E-12
-76.2416772057538E-12
-7.56.0506634864978E-12
-85.8761773580592E-12
-8.55.7159650941928E-12
-95.568181009949E-12
-9.55.4312971401565E-12
-105.304036210292E-12