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]
04.1908880415299E-11
-0.53.2700172412689E-11
-12.7724145746168E-11
-1.52.4493565339605E-11
-22.2180218878674E-11
-2.52.0418771788858E-11
-31.9019744906109E-11
-3.51.7873783008714E-11
-41.6912770385435E-11
-4.51.6091773309295E-11
-51.5379792268393E-11
-5.51.4754657079866E-11
-61.4200036217622E-11
-6.51.3703597813461E-11
-71.3255832410533E-11
-7.51.2849273286738E-11
-81.247796483126E-11
-8.51.2137090796906E-11
-91.1822708546717E-11
-9.51.1531555335379E-11
-101.1260904631498E-11