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 0.008 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]
05.7881430567752E-11
-0.54.5469335574765E-11
-13.8665526135369E-11
-1.53.4217553513299E-11
-23.1019305938856E-11
-2.52.8577392759421E-11
-32.6634113698284E-11
-3.52.5040013792632E-11
-42.3701664699417E-11
-4.52.2557264192068E-11
-52.156408160493E-11
-5.52.0691502249267E-11
-61.9916940537725E-11
-6.51.9223320832197E-11
-71.8597461518003E-11
-7.51.8029002944937E-11
-81.7509675353146E-11
-8.51.7032786291919E-11
-91.6592853769454E-11
-9.51.6185338570017E-11
-101.5806445538873E-11