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 0.002 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]
01.9193326988444E-11
-0.51.5143190953433E-11
-11.2902398360284E-11
-1.51.1430810775486E-11
-21.0369806518337E-11
-2.59.5582418889661E-12
-38.9115585121568E-12
-3.58.3805572807098E-12
-47.9344089051011E-12
-4.57.5526824273901E-12
-57.2212309856814E-12
-5.56.9299068626492E-12
-66.6712162884777E-12
-6.56.4394889197662E-12
-76.2303443734426E-12
-7.56.0403378983555E-12
-85.8667181746263E-12
-8.55.707257582976E-12
-95.5601306369506E-12
-9.55.4238252173432E-12
-105.297076636928E-12