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 0.002 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]
01.7263528149176E-11
-0.51.3518507121468E-11
-11.1479447316019E-11
-1.51.015078391779E-11
-29.1972932779795E-12
-2.58.4702335482628E-12
-37.8921748408572E-12
-3.57.418315043466E-12
-47.0206949314328E-12
-4.56.6808439551077E-12
-56.3860047211892E-12
-5.56.1270448707019E-12
-65.8972318789052E-12
-6.55.6914787101384E-12
-75.5058604055213E-12
-7.55.3372936348163E-12
-85.1833180279684E-12
-8.55.0419431631503E-12
-94.9115391168454E-12
-9.54.7907566390387E-12
-104.6784679205393E-12