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 0.002 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]
09.4221456196303E-12
-0.57.318158901141E-12
-16.1921853203215E-12
-1.55.4645374119659E-12
-24.9449028688661E-12
-2.54.5499513493956E-12
-34.2366639148404E-12
-3.53.980292245041E-12
-43.7654572757081E-12
-4.53.5820322809419E-12
-53.4230409127584E-12
-5.53.2834996567502E-12
-63.159740990494E-12
-6.53.0489978426221E-12
-72.9491379336262E-12
-7.52.8584880309541E-12
-82.7757142333777E-12
-8.52.6997383283339E-12
-92.6296780422284E-12
-9.52.564803515092E-12
-102.5045050375471E-12