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]
03.6951993014761E-10
-0.52.9566693216411E-10
-12.5355288553405E-10
-1.52.2547286778827E-10
-22.0504078217514E-10
-2.51.8931562271496E-10
-31.7672963160461E-10
-3.51.6636051933675E-10
-41.5762561324943E-10
-4.51.501363212397E-10
-51.4362221504597E-10
-5.51.3788851430745E-10
-61.3279088712365E-10
-6.51.2821980505063E-10
-71.2409044671153E-10
-7.51.203359649253E-10
-81.1690286856024E-10
-8.51.1374777645047E-10
-91.1083508625569E-10
-9.51.0813526831849E-10
-101.0562359567345E-10