Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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]
04.5499840178703E-11
-0.53.5820482211984E-11
-13.049007673162E-11
-1.52.6997451528299E-11
-22.4482738501408E-11
-2.52.256098587563E-11
-32.103066695529E-11
-3.51.9774717298053E-11
-41.8719869986487E-11
-4.51.7817615190368E-11
-51.7034388397229E-11
-5.51.6346127859316E-11
-61.5735073619588E-11
-6.51.5187792849849E-11
-71.4693912340344E-11
-7.51.424527710981E-11
-81.3835375564027E-11
-8.51.3458936832053E-11
-91.3111642473924E-11
-9.51.2789916049284E-11
-101.249076685627E-11