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 0.008 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]
06.5278539718049E-11
-0.55.0701692138554E-11
-14.2900718338716E-11
-1.53.7859425749544E-11
-23.4259292029476E-11
-2.53.1522987636479E-11
-32.9352468620389E-11
-3.52.7576273589534E-11
-42.6087853261025E-11
-4.52.4817047619773E-11
-52.3715523109138E-11
-5.52.2748752928505E-11
-62.1891327737174E-11
-6.52.1124076702357E-11
-72.0432226958277E-11
-7.51.980418600976E-11
-81.9230712318009E-11
-8.51.8704335807262E-11
-91.8218943906751E-11
-9.51.7769479998282E-11
-101.7351719891375E-11