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 0.006 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]
04.7722689988637E-10
-0.53.851106744332E-10
-13.3159917477997E-10
-1.52.9557691787303E-10
-22.6921148379017E-10
-2.52.4883897941642E-10
-32.3248642044653E-10
-3.52.1898480974503E-10
-42.0759167011289E-10
-4.51.9780978444709E-10
-51.8929198640986E-10
-5.51.817875476736E-10
-61.7511026028792E-10
-6.51.6911854793494E-10
-71.6370259119499E-10
-7.51.5877571924549E-10
-81.542684918657E-10
-8.51.50124531405E-10
-91.4629752430138E-10
-9.51.4274902309662E-10
-101.3944680805639E-10