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 0.001 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]
02.2190835449565E-11
-0.51.7633590891274E-11
-11.5073334256182E-11
-1.51.3379091475503E-11
-21.2151937598929E-11
-2.51.1210395477138E-11
-31.0458485235645E-11
-3.59.8400548155473E-12
-49.319774666225E-12
-4.58.8741578419595E-12
-58.486900751299E-12
-5.58.1462847654837E-12
-67.843641363703E-12
-6.57.5724018961428E-12
-77.3274858027522E-12
-7.57.1048934629546E-12
-86.9014274129327E-12
-8.56.7144966875353E-12
-96.541976498424E-12
-9.56.3821056555388E-12
-106.2334102923466E-12