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 0.007 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]
05.567647165341E-10
-0.54.4929578683873E-10
-13.8686570390997E-10
-1.53.4483973751853E-10
-23.1408006442186E-10
-2.52.9031214265249E-10
-32.7123415718762E-10
-3.52.5548227803587E-10
-42.4219028179837E-10
-4.52.3077808185494E-10
-52.2084065081151E-10
-5.52.1208547228586E-10
-62.0429530366924E-10
-6.51.9730497259076E-10
-71.9098635639416E-10
-7.51.8523833911974E-10
-81.7997990717665E-10
-8.51.7514528663917E-10
-91.7068044501827E-10
-9.51.6654052694605E-10
-101.6268794273246E-10