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]
05.9314291932455E-10
-0.54.7750704724705E-10
-14.106834724874E-10
-1.53.6582218602121E-10
-23.3304228156661E-10
-2.53.0774216044495E-10
-32.8745105724232E-10
-3.52.7070803246846E-10
-42.565866017737E-10
-4.52.4446705934719E-10
-52.3391712549994E-10
-5.52.2462484439759E-10
-62.1635868650306E-10
-6.52.0894271354685E-10
-72.0224051616288E-10
-7.51.9614448243089E-10
-81.9056842510865E-10
-8.51.8544239198609E-10
-91.8070893434282E-10
-9.51.7632037283428E-10
-101.7223676029932E-10