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 0.008 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]
04.2073466418249E-10
-0.53.3833566364161E-10
-12.9083390140716E-10
-1.52.5898395243263E-10
-22.357292415066E-10
-2.52.1779019071381E-10
-32.0340821051708E-10
-3.51.9154443749871E-10
-41.8154051552483E-10
-4.51.7295632277401E-10
-51.6548498254495E-10
-5.51.5890511495498E-10
-61.5305246334257E-10
-6.51.4780224105925E-10
-71.4305771866786E-10
-7.51.3874260155461E-10
-81.3479579473499E-10
-8.51.3116771879697E-10
-91.2781766154204E-10
-9.51.2471183792093E-10
-101.2182194475337E-10