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 0.003 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]
05.3299378494514E-11
-0.54.1830097086001E-11
-13.5555788291595E-11
-1.53.1458012356903E-11
-22.8513297836639E-11
-2.52.6265839905345E-11
-32.4477808144885E-11
-3.52.3011367297272E-11
-42.1780397089959E-11
-4.52.0727952074679E-11
-51.9814671987588E-11
-5.51.9012364107887E-11
-61.8300234046132E-11
-6.51.7662563205777E-11
-71.7087219409871E-11
-7.51.6564669046119E-11
-81.60873026371E-11
-8.51.5648962708227E-11
-91.5244605942015E-11
-9.51.4870056695016E-11
-101.4521824044179E-11