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 0.007 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]
01.0107634417872E-10
-0.57.9466420627569E-11
-16.7600120465655E-11
-1.55.983596711656E-11
-25.4250439372444E-11
-2.54.9984359218911E-11
-34.6588585110194E-11
-3.54.3802477621723E-11
-44.1463031581161E-11
-4.53.946238325272E-11
-53.7725934309008E-11
-5.53.6200226410251E-11
-63.4845814107178E-11
-6.53.3632870376759E-11
-73.2538367055992E-11
-7.53.1544203846691E-11
-83.063593043751E-11
-8.52.9801851619385E-11
-92.9032386733055E-11
-9.52.8319602212739E-11
-102.7656864529727E-11