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 0.005 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]
01.1181899562424E-10
-0.58.8600025273342E-11
-17.5636011091872E-11
-1.56.7083587460693E-11
-26.0900550091808E-11
-2.55.616251123371E-11
-35.2382142659537E-11
-3.54.9274975711763E-11
-44.6662326295875E-11
-4.54.4425558145554E-11
-54.2482403319836E-11
-5.54.0773778866719E-11
-63.9256010152172E-11
-6.53.7896021717368E-11
-73.6668243996632E-11
-7.53.5552556354557E-11
-83.4532879632786E-11
-8.53.3596188959153E-11
-93.2731806135154E-11
-9.53.1930882601006E-11
-103.1186015145321E-11