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]
02.4176248988099E-11
-0.51.9249899248466E-11
-11.6470271177336E-11
-1.51.4626849478361E-11
-21.328988143461E-11
-2.51.2263173496996E-11
-31.1442727193378E-11
-3.51.0767602629087E-11
-41.0199412681408E-11
-4.59.7126145016974E-12
-59.2894645127062E-12
-5.58.9172015018616E-12
-68.58638107217E-12
-6.58.2898436631097E-12
-78.0220496933803E-12
-7.57.7786368327196E-12
-87.5561167075828E-12
-8.57.3516619476707E-12
-97.162953401832E-12
-9.56.988068411468E-12
-106.8253977083504E-12