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 0.008 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]
06.296965573987E-11
-0.54.9596830012811E-11
-14.2225164337041E-11
-1.53.7392709457542E-11
-23.3912301418412E-11
-2.53.1252046724773E-11
-32.9133354922406E-11
-3.52.7394340314215E-11
-42.593365795523E-11
-4.52.4684194449205E-11
-52.3599506009563E-11
-5.52.264629375052E-11
-62.1799977192321E-11
-6.52.1041963112214E-11
-72.0357892200856E-11
-7.51.9736475026475E-11
-81.9168696675702E-11
-8.51.8647259570359E-11
-91.8166184512447E-11
-9.51.7720519456375E-11
-101.7306123236491E-11