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]
01.3817877246908E-10
-0.51.1002233843703E-10
-19.4135440722733E-11
-1.58.3599408121786E-11
-27.5957999266055E-11
-2.57.0089874621347E-11
-36.5400633409173E-11
-3.56.1541975120067E-11
-45.8294499072883E-11
-4.55.5512215727535E-11
-55.3093712092918E-11
-5.55.0966051763995E-11
-64.9075255515786E-11
-6.54.7380403051481E-11
-74.5849833026742E-11
-7.54.4458612647358E-11
-84.3186804197825E-11
-8.54.2018247910867E-11
-94.0939688733583E-11
-9.53.9940137756769E-11
-103.901039724638E-11