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]
05.8597602965165E-11
-0.54.5924387760494E-11
-13.9011883316497E-11
-1.53.4503767242692E-11
-23.1266941357418E-11
-2.52.8797941401758E-11
-32.6834451701778E-11
-3.52.5224600221087E-11
-42.3873567198616E-11
-4.52.2718690798891E-11
-52.1716679384619E-11
-5.52.0836535808718E-11
-62.0055404242022E-11
-6.51.9356012329952E-11
-71.8725031617261E-11
-7.51.8151990459493E-11
-81.7628532074178E-11
-8.51.7147895282578E-11
-91.6704543029847E-11
-9.51.629389142047E-11
-101.5912108630876E-11