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 0.007 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]
05.2276019462718E-10
-0.54.1977302543728E-10
-13.6058909952099E-10
-1.53.2097063989624E-10
-22.9207268872583E-10
-2.52.6979540053972E-10
-32.5194411490131E-10
-3.52.3722393634055E-10
-42.2481499568869E-10
-4.52.1416958120703E-10
-52.0490601263985E-10
-5.51.9674907325766E-10
-61.8949463924152E-10
-6.51.8298768682952E-10
-71.7710808138244E-10
-7.51.717610904248E-10
-81.6687087035031E-10
-8.51.6237588450193E-10
-91.5822561034637E-10
-9.51.5437812794131E-10
-101.507983238523E-10