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 0.003 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]
01.7517152665774E-11
-0.51.3540880094805E-11
-11.1434089890138E-11
-1.51.0079009123351E-11
-29.1139837148079E-12
-2.58.381849266587E-12
-37.8018512986511E-12
-3.57.3276831148555E-12
-46.9306373109853E-12
-4.56.5918452697914E-12
-56.2983271041446E-12
-5.56.0408215966042E-12
-65.812519767935E-12
-6.55.6082885977759E-12
-75.4241754025257E-12
-7.55.2570803313157E-12
-85.1045334911548E-12
-8.54.9645393614169E-12
-94.8354657350675E-12
-9.54.7159628701168E-12
-104.6049035962141E-12