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 0.006 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]
02.6089121143157E-10
-0.52.0886361412979E-10
-11.7915995759997E-10
-1.51.593426558204E-10
-21.4491747931678E-10
-2.51.338126357937E-10
-31.2492301130047E-10
-3.51.1759819056905E-10
-41.1142712470822E-10
-4.51.0613560868622E-10
-51.0153277876426E-10
-5.59.7481138962E-11
-69.3878790639837E-11
-6.59.0648397250285E-11
-78.7730061444496E-11
-7.58.5076574320895E-11
-88.2650156371E-11
-8.58.0420166413356E-11
-97.8361456108644E-11
-9.57.6453165525355E-11
-107.4677826524528E-11