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 0.004 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]
06.9291697254769E-11
-0.55.4903427577153E-11
-14.6869921813181E-11
-1.54.1570178726258E-11
-23.7738690604871E-11
-2.53.4802635310296E-11
-33.2460026585447E-11
-3.53.0534585650629E-11
-42.8915586022275E-11
-4.52.7529511494992E-11
-52.6325382490335E-11
-5.52.526658664204E-11
-62.4326059769266E-11
-6.52.3483305759821E-11
-72.272247973338E-11
-7.52.2031113388208E-11
-82.1399242834298E-11
-8.52.0818796853574E-11
-92.0283158408438E-11
-9.51.9786844246944E-11
-101.9325266766784E-11