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 0.002 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]
01.7183142511185E-11
-0.51.3479803693878E-11
-11.1455720129158E-11
-1.51.0134367604413E-11
-29.1850768126334E-12
-2.58.4606883933563E-12
-37.8844518827845E-12
-3.57.4119002358181E-12
-47.0152565848391E-12
-4.56.6761572435857E-12
-56.3819111590854E-12
-5.56.1234291070443E-12
-65.8940076953392E-12
-6.55.6885801994319E-12
-75.5032362085231E-12
-7.55.3349030571738E-12
-85.1811283526498E-12
-8.55.0399277467097E-12
-94.9096760129411E-12
-9.54.7890275849166E-12
-104.6768575785534E-12