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]
05.8451556634943E-11
-0.54.5853982094818E-11
-13.8968696994026E-11
-1.53.4473878197954E-11
-23.1244694453326E-11
-2.52.8780556669012E-11
-32.6820384307589E-11
-3.52.5212914699652E-11
-42.3863659823019E-11
-4.52.2710152288687E-11
-52.1709221192319E-11
-5.52.082994789908E-11
-62.0049529612331E-11
-6.51.9350730955241E-11
-71.8720249960598E-11
-7.51.814763440304E-11
-81.7624542026622E-11
-8.51.7144222713108E-11
-91.6701147961896E-11
-9.51.6290740586237E-11
-101.5909174090154E-11