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 0.006 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]
01.5632094047768E-10
-0.51.2457212398074E-10
-11.0662581936823E-10
-1.59.4713129414344E-11
-28.6068488536868E-11
-2.57.942746693843E-11
-37.4119175490537E-11
-3.56.9750231179404E-11
-46.6072712115601E-11
-4.56.2921587413471E-11
-56.0182181765758E-11
-5.55.7771999884263E-11
-65.5629975451851E-11
-6.55.3709807484793E-11
-75.1975666030801E-11
-7.55.0399331900021E-11
-84.8958236804658E-11
-8.54.7634087020927E-11
-94.6411875772004E-11
-9.54.5279160908875E-11
-104.4225527581029E-11