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 0.009 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]
08.4387762240512E-11
-0.56.5670041261371E-11
-15.5612367086789E-11
-1.54.910016289735E-11
-24.444432058931E-11
-2.54.0902958449512E-11
-33.8092342073084E-11
-3.53.5791418393895E-11
-43.3862686107657E-11
-4.53.2215535862399E-11
-53.0787509179193E-11
-5.52.9533967539266E-11
-62.842204684919E-11
-6.52.7426943399749E-11
-72.6529538137555E-11
-7.52.5714824283144E-11
-82.4970835808301E-11
-8.52.4287898523827E-11
-92.3658094932781E-11
-9.52.3074874290071E-11
-102.2532763489694E-11