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 0.004 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]
01.0484715013677E-10
-0.58.3367457397529E-11
-17.128384506836E-11
-1.56.3282113250285E-11
-25.7484009911413E-11
-2.55.3034146638605E-11
-34.9479804979069E-11
-3.54.6555995617222E-11
-44.4095932386528E-11
-4.54.1988705079372E-11
-54.0157307382987E-11
-5.53.8546378811559E-11
-63.7114961745648E-11
-6.53.5832016154888E-11
-73.467353128151E-11
-7.53.3620603074597E-11
-83.2658117572971E-11
-8.53.1773826738972E-11
-93.0957685587177E-11
-9.53.0201367559002E-11
-102.9497904133808E-11