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]
03.1502756325507E-10
-0.52.5347931271681E-10
-12.1795231003443E-10
-1.51.9411569211375E-10
-21.7670471223639E-10
-2.51.6326990790511E-10
-31.5249689650847E-10
-3.51.4360883970187E-10
-41.3611325208059E-10
-4.51.2968080481784E-10
-51.2408181949844E-10
-5.51.1915057579913E-10
-61.1476409543154E-10
-6.51.1082893878551E-10
-71.0727266712847E-10
-7.51.0403813933141E-10
-81.0107959413722E-10
-8.59.8359892834182E-11
-99.5848536854385E-11
-9.59.352021540185E-11
-109.1353723381502E-11