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 0.007 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]
05.1695197244972E-11
-0.54.0288158181782E-11
-13.4139706213908E-11
-1.53.015275851151E-11
-22.7299827446196E-11
-2.52.5128550531348E-11
-32.340459644778E-11
-3.52.1992837657379E-11
-42.080915723223E-11
-4.51.9798092284878E-11
-51.8921393699234E-11
-5.51.8151714905896E-11
-61.746891634304E-11
-6.51.6857793968268E-11
-71.6306625656489E-11
-7.51.5806208780859E-11
-81.5349204153334E-11
-8.51.4929677364644E-11
-91.4542770963325E-11
-9.51.4184465534846E-11
-101.3851402525467E-11