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]
08.3617660937962E-11
-0.56.6617258632234E-11
-15.701311903838E-11
-1.55.0639767515353E-11
-24.6015649917383E-11
-2.54.2463710347446E-11
-33.9624820425334E-11
-3.53.7288445863942E-11
-43.5321922391838E-11
-4.53.3636951851535E-11
-53.217218427995E-11
-5.53.0883489138932E-11
-62.9738201384817E-11
-6.52.8711555490564E-11
-72.7784387600844E-11
-7.52.6941605143784E-11
-82.6171138276401E-11
-8.52.5463203565845E-11
-92.4809775657111E-11
-9.52.4204200881101E-11
-102.3640909831385E-11