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 0.009 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]
01.7765842174596E-10
-0.51.4145729227618E-10
-11.2103128092923E-10
-1.51.0748495329944E-10
-29.7660284770642E-11
-2.59.0115553084589E-11
-38.4086528668937E-11
-3.57.9125396582944E-11
-47.4950070236563E-11
-4.57.1372848792545E-11
-56.8263344119466E-11
-5.56.5527780839422E-11
-66.3096757091724E-11
-6.56.091766106619E-11
-75.8949785320096E-11
-7.55.7161073403746E-11
-85.552589111149E-11
-8.55.4023461599686E-11
-95.2636742657464E-11
-9.55.1351605687274E-11
-105.0156225031061E-11