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]
03.1484827869935E-11
-0.52.4798415006405E-11
-12.111258216852E-11
-1.51.8696354728771E-11
-21.6956150709206E-11
-2.51.5626023362386E-11
-31.4566677461203E-11
-3.51.3697170157107E-11
-41.2966828977615E-11
-4.51.2342097224602E-11
-51.1799753004782E-11
-5.51.132314687526E-11
-61.0899988596161E-11
-6.51.0520981556107E-11
-71.0178946100428E-11
-7.59.8682375132377E-12
-89.584348337851E-12
-8.59.3236297851794E-12
-99.0830922562233E-12
-9.58.8602597281876E-12
-108.6530616182456E-12