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 0.001 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]
02.4582483481319E-11
-0.51.945308311775E-11
-11.659699609848E-11
-1.51.4715391986549E-11
-21.3356190680255E-11
-2.51.2315213354913E-11
-31.14849705348E-11
-3.51.0802779001137E-11
-41.0229294060227E-11
-4.59.7384077258591E-12
-59.3120236069962E-12
-5.58.9371500378955E-12
-68.6041863836794E-12
-6.58.3058638055374E-12
-78.0365642352126E-12
-7.57.7918676690015E-12
-87.5682425036985E-12
-8.57.3628283955236E-12
-97.1732806512663E-12
-9.56.9976565524529E-12
-106.834330880611E-12