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 0.003 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]
04.2578110365867E-11
-0.53.3693728323803E-11
-12.874684049559E-11
-1.52.5487806573994E-11
-22.313360085378E-11
-2.52.1330575236759E-11
-31.9892552489706E-11
-3.51.8710962092907E-11
-41.7717657037876E-11
-4.51.6867416966009E-11
-51.6128898008598E-11
-5.51.5479597940501E-11
-61.4902887974325E-11
-6.51.4386178111938E-11
-71.3919737573679E-11
-7.51.3495910688564E-11
-81.3108580540408E-11
-8.51.2752792868458E-11
-91.2424486544944E-11
-9.51.2120296682766E-11
-101.1837408320955E-11