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]
08.5693802067308E-11
-0.56.7652914250319E-11
-15.7658277214742E-11
-1.55.1090229832972E-11
-24.6352850645466E-11
-2.54.2728265420264E-11
-33.9839523848863E-11
-3.53.7467199720799E-11
-43.5473747813499E-11
-4.53.3767990783852E-11
-53.2286781916471E-11
-5.53.0984817438627E-11
-62.9828637114697E-11
-6.52.8792919358162E-11
-72.7858101012282E-11
-7.52.7008796141358E-11
-82.6232715040975E-11
-8.52.5519906600285E-11
-92.4862215591686E-11
-9.52.4252886358932E-11
-102.3686268409834E-11