Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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]
01.962437123497E-11
-0.51.5352217859863E-11
-11.3030954939699E-11
-1.51.1519918634201E-11
-21.043619560515E-11
-2.59.6101566360072E-12
-38.9535880452726E-12
-3.58.4154839088459E-12
-47.964029927805E-12
-4.57.5782171648807E-12
-57.2435395799762E-12
-5.56.9496157204159E-12
-66.6887938441528E-12
-6.56.455293405333E-12
-76.2446550472457E-12
-7.56.0533761000535E-12
-85.8786619038824E-12
-8.55.7182518311573E-12
-95.5702948603028E-12
-9.55.4332588414706E-12
-105.3058631774318E-12