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 0.009 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]
02.990285317749E-11
-0.52.3249527106627E-11
-11.9681158160592E-11
-1.51.7372750694131E-11
-21.5723244052769E-11
-2.51.4469020611571E-11
-31.3473847637707E-11
-3.51.2659295797756E-11
-41.1976601998364E-11
-4.51.1393644001736E-11
-51.088828556456E-11
-5.51.0444709671796E-11
-61.0051273580184E-11
-6.59.699191477314E-12
-79.3816920447213E-12
-7.59.0934610099642E-12
-88.8302613366611E-12
-8.58.5886678097006E-12
-98.3658774061859E-12
-9.58.1595711377368E-12
-107.9678116280965E-12