Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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 0.008 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]
02.2237830914017E-10
-0.51.7734109882835E-10
-11.5184371045528E-10
-1.51.3490529546909E-10
-21.2260776847618E-10
-2.51.131574658386E-10
-31.0560191067982E-10
-3.59.9382285508346E-11
-49.4146255577318E-11
-4.58.9659209071236E-11
-58.5758077728013E-11
-5.58.2325527919144E-11
-67.9274688968808E-11
-6.57.6539684795832E-11
-77.4069530639193E-11
-7.57.182406704728E-11
-86.9771173335564E-11
-8.56.7884810389967E-11
-96.6143616047907E-11
-9.56.4529877666812E-11
-106.3028767738819E-11