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 0.006 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]
01.993523545166E-11
-0.51.5499684737751E-11
-11.3120772107062E-11
-1.51.1581833796087E-11
-21.0482162701846E-11
-2.59.6460137410473E-12
-38.9825650918048E-12
-3.58.4395305318376E-12
-47.9844013322429E-12
-4.57.5957626678243E-12
-57.2588570430398E-12
-5.56.9631397811976E-12
-66.700849053456E-12
-6.56.4661276515427E-12
-76.2544613631476E-12
-7.56.0623073399761E-12
-85.8868408911074E-12
-8.55.7257785398004E-12
-95.5772516041239E-12
-9.55.4397140918245E-12
-105.311874418731E-12