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 0.007 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]
02.3598243216381E-11
-0.51.8241605124866E-11
-11.5403441377355E-11
-1.51.357794347124E-11
-21.227790888598E-11
-2.51.1291613504199E-11
-31.0510268877392E-11
-3.59.8714929107622E-12
-49.3366124066903E-12
-4.58.8802084955977E-12
-58.4847953143852E-12
-5.58.1378966081606E-12
-67.8303396562704E-12
-6.57.5552095071111E-12
-77.3071813004866E-12
-7.57.082079070352E-12
-86.8765754988132E-12
-8.56.6879823190053E-12
-96.5141007021963E-12
-9.56.3531123426171E-12
-106.2034987720219E-12