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 0.001 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]
02.8564600689103E-11
-0.52.2550971416773E-11
-11.9219425738247E-11
-1.51.7030076610991E-11
-21.5450950215155E-11
-2.51.4242755140088E-11
-31.3279841282954E-11
-3.51.24890665736E-11
-41.18245826045E-11
-4.51.1255996927951E-11
-51.0762260638824E-11
-5.51.0328272479542E-11
-69.9428790382324E-12
-6.59.597639786054E-12
-79.2860336707605E-12
-7.59.0029320471195E-12
-88.7442383469918E-12
-8.58.5066355334285E-12
-98.2874051972286E-12
-9.58.0842954529774E-12
-107.8954228032779E-12