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 0.008 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]
06.4763010075651E-10
-0.55.193784653203E-10
-14.4588040516042E-10
-1.53.9675017121485E-10
-23.6094564040959E-10
-2.53.333604604776E-10
-33.1126530917163E-10
-3.52.9305154181605E-10
-42.7770144450785E-10
-4.52.6453555349485E-10
-52.5308060778839E-10
-5.52.4299549189316E-10
-62.340272905973E-10
-6.52.2598397946878E-10
-72.1871678660144E-10
-7.52.1210842225353E-10
-82.0606500061369E-10
-8.52.0051035867062E-10
-91.9538197449668E-10
-9.51.906279786547E-10
-101.8620492878681E-10