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]
01.762815074531E-10
-0.51.4044151250292E-10
-11.2019420844773E-10
-1.51.0675800368661E-10
-29.700950783458E-11
-2.58.952136173306E-11
-38.3536456279479E-11
-3.57.8610946225294E-11
-47.4465150729274E-11
-4.57.0912920930845E-11
-56.7824919751537E-11
-5.56.5108111848065E-11
-66.2693633261864E-11
-6.56.0529273677664E-11
-75.8574632141071E-11
-7.55.6797890716844E-11
-85.517360394176E-11
-8.55.3681146528395E-11
-95.2303599542849E-11
-9.55.1026935819022E-11
-104.983941401723E-11