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]
09.8911025014419E-11
-0.57.8401161244568E-11
-16.6940707516869E-11
-1.55.937721714416E-11
-25.3907839938092E-11
-2.54.9716010171538E-11
-34.6371067328071E-11
-3.54.362155004751E-11
-44.1309473964229E-11
-4.53.9329929235626E-11
-53.7610157053849E-11
-5.53.6097898193915E-11
-63.4754518789475E-11
-6.53.3550758660686E-11
-73.2463996273362E-11
-7.53.1476429812021E-11
-83.0573832489907E-11
-8.52.9744679453285E-11
-92.8979521909129E-11
-9.52.8270529788184E-11
-102.7611151807362E-11