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 0.006 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]
05.5613514802924E-11
-0.54.3473996556931E-11
-13.6888503204769E-11
-1.53.2604936543524E-11
-22.9534139439344E-11
-2.52.7194213908814E-11
-32.5334749115744E-11
-3.52.3811033221947E-11
-42.2532839829752E-11
-4.52.1440605062472E-11
-52.0493211803711E-11
-5.51.9661239801869E-11
-61.8923008142964E-11
-6.51.8262140133349E-11
-71.7666003591248E-11
-7.51.7124677388953E-11
-81.6630246505432E-11
-8.51.6176308906283E-11
-91.5757622915771E-11
-9.51.5369850101745E-11
-101.5009364531443E-11