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]
03.9966089441033E-11
-0.53.1678853010819E-11
-12.7048130412916E-11
-1.52.3992018794641E-11
-22.1782056673911E-11
-2.52.0088301671905E-11
-31.8736740662021E-11
-3.51.7625767911121E-11
-41.6691548095632E-11
-4.51.5891691237771E-11
-51.5196798339581E-11
-5.51.4585753485428E-11
-61.404294623595E-11
-6.51.3556553693099E-11
-71.3117435376748E-11
-7.51.2718398267213E-11
-81.2353693874557E-11
-8.51.201866545465E-11
-91.1709495118565E-11
-9.51.1423019040549E-11
-101.115659010249E-11