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 0.001 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]
02.8086730772328E-11
-0.52.2313600556138E-11
-11.9071845709076E-11
-1.51.6927149502545E-11
-21.5373959007295E-11
-2.51.4182381840343E-11
-31.3230863178515E-11
-3.51.2448301273263E-11
-41.1789966496358E-11
-4.51.1226125805472E-11
-51.0736141527323E-11
-5.51.0305180785169E-11
-69.9222719888579E-12
-6.59.5791017055966E-12
-79.269240120355E-12
-7.58.987625600551E-12
-88.7302117884214E-12
-8.58.4937199318838E-12
-98.2754612690671E-12
-9.58.0732071922112E-12
-107.885092708171E-12