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]
03.0434390693418E-11
-0.52.3986183979801E-11
-12.0426872817025E-11
-1.51.8092041931966E-11
-21.6409794830782E-11
-2.51.5123626986276E-11
-31.4099097696167E-11
-3.51.3258048170926E-11
-41.2551531782807E-11
-4.51.1947126029404E-11
-51.1422389111076E-11
-5.51.0961228089863E-11
-61.0551761807201E-11
-6.51.018500199241E-11
-79.8540063928686E-12
-7.59.5533164466384E-12
-89.2785730010879E-12
-8.59.0262470731581E-12
-98.7934470464849E-12
-9.58.5777779159104E-12
-108.3772367499681E-12