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]
03.7075676535283E-11
-0.52.8982664371287E-11
-12.4592335469846E-11
-1.52.173662436235E-11
-21.9689426292896E-11
-2.51.812947593921E-11
-31.6889832743829E-11
-3.51.5874022147964E-11
-41.5021893219834E-11
-4.51.4293736708315E-11
-51.3662141202474E-11
-5.51.3107493201246E-11
-61.2615338761976E-11
-6.51.2174760088899E-11
-71.1777335727499E-11
-7.51.1416451592635E-11
-81.1086831003621E-11
-8.51.0784205937522E-11
-91.0505081943847E-11
-9.51.0246566734497E-11
-101.0006243020962E-11