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 0.001 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]
09.9255384005604E-12
-0.57.7300151849431E-12
-16.5483455994089E-12
-1.55.7826305984728E-12
-25.2349359545025E-12
-2.54.8182166245181E-12
-34.487413523612E-12
-3.54.2165558886874E-12
-43.989482694207E-12
-4.53.7955410197144E-12
-53.6273858452066E-12
-5.53.4797667091818E-12
-63.348817442927E-12
-6.53.2316197055618E-12
-73.125923731487E-12
-7.53.0299634709919E-12
-82.9423305943334E-12
-8.52.8618864175946E-12
-92.7876989600033E-12
-9.52.7189970749439E-12
-102.6551364380056E-12