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 0.001 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]
06.0482654103389E-11
-0.54.870678394064E-11
-14.1897023295334E-11
-1.53.7323717214423E-11
-23.3981286211361E-11
-2.53.1401149737721E-11
-32.9331613587337E-11
-3.52.7623813207262E-11
-42.618332408789E-11
-4.52.4946977782032E-11
-52.3870705226035E-11
-5.52.2922700599953E-11
-62.2079356023695E-11
-6.52.1322730675608E-11
-72.063891372168E-11
-7.52.0016930459459E-11
-81.944799074775E-11
-8.51.8924959940907E-11
-91.8441978446163E-11
-9.51.7994182955496E-11
-101.7577498724089E-11