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]
06.0594668547451E-11
-0.54.7837834433433E-11
-14.0770558810078E-11
-1.53.6126247967274E-11
-23.2776415018736E-11
-2.53.0213446227008E-11
-32.8170797472775E-11
-3.52.6493310994647E-11
-42.5083727633026E-11
-4.52.3877575270306E-11
-52.2830202435828E-11
-5.52.190957452468E-11
-62.1092031577355E-11
-6.52.0359668528314E-11
-71.9698652136764E-11
-7.51.909810290324E-11
-81.8549330694408E-11
-8.51.8045299012309E-11
-91.7580241240203E-11
-9.51.7149380407748E-11
-101.6748721013598E-11