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 0.004 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]
03.4898411047178E-10
-0.52.7906319037628E-10
-12.3924468387051E-10
-1.52.127133519173E-10
-21.9341618231198E-10
-2.51.7856866201242E-10
-31.6668751803312E-10
-3.51.569006015981E-10
-41.4865712381503E-10
-4.51.4158986289659E-10
-51.354433217741E-10
-5.51.3003350936657E-10
-61.2522411011519E-10
-6.51.2091169270459E-10
-71.1701616668219E-10
-7.51.1347441954024E-10
-81.1023595302008E-10
-8.51.0725981630824E-10
-91.0451240391402E-10
-9.51.0196584412922E-10
-109.9596799572564E-11