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]
08.3202379338816E-11
-0.56.6406691419363E-11
-15.6880957328965E-11
-1.55.0547089867872E-11
-24.5946079549596E-11
-2.54.2409020391689E-11
-33.9580371211964E-11
-3.53.7251397535399E-11
-43.5290427130251E-11
-4.53.3609748888637E-11
-53.2148380121813E-11
-5.53.0862430606733E-11
-62.9719398458661E-11
-6.52.8694632408717E-11
-72.7769050750812E-11
-7.52.6927621332139E-11
-82.6158319633146E-11
-8.52.5451396815574E-11
-92.4798854338815E-11
-9.52.4194059604558E-11
-102.3631459968779E-11