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 0.004 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]
03.7505672106894E-11
-0.52.9186685005054E-11
-12.4716607594129E-11
-1.52.1822294621044E-11
-21.9753031373027E-11
-2.51.8179092644227E-11
-31.692992981026E-11
-3.51.5907297063953E-11
-41.5050082714514E-11
-4.51.4318015938844E-11
-51.3683337412975E-11
-5.51.3126207795229E-11
-61.2632020821862E-11
-6.51.2189752622111E-11
-71.1790905838913E-11
-7.51.1428810792508E-11
-81.1098149248134E-11
-8.51.0794621566145E-11
-91.0514708859014E-11
-9.51.0255499684476E-11
-101.0014561550975E-11