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]
03.1825469033462E-11
-0.52.5158162972506E-11
-12.1454147538211E-11
-1.51.9016661052753E-11
-21.7257099034583E-11
-2.51.591010450484E-11
-31.4836142347572E-11
-3.51.3953907354966E-11
-41.321239675108E-11
-4.51.257778218326E-11
-51.2026624595262E-11
-5.51.1542101776581E-11
-61.1111785472399E-11
-6.51.0726267971813E-11
-71.0378279385747E-11
-7.51.0062101035165E-11
-89.7731642920863E-12
-8.59.5077693423507E-12
-99.2628836825548E-12
-9.59.0359949425535E-12
-108.8250015316388E-12