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]
01.277343310976E-10
-0.51.0108118497141E-10
-18.6240521486769E-11
-1.57.6463419721982E-11
-26.9400802561339E-11
-2.56.3991725710278E-11
-35.9677657469117E-11
-3.55.613288627872E-11
-45.3152971113628E-11
-4.55.0602250898028E-11
-54.8386694025795E-11
-5.54.6438793821503E-11
-64.4708663922975E-11
-6.54.3158534335814E-11
-74.1759212721037E-11
-7.54.0487732065692E-11
-83.9325741621224E-11
-8.53.8258378605373E-11
-93.7273459634832E-11
-9.53.6360890048297E-11
-103.5512224962866E-11