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 0.003 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]
01.3903378700731E-11
-0.51.0868499139233E-11
-19.2221258011923E-12
-1.58.1512341358811E-12
-27.3835348598359E-12
-2.56.7985534772036E-12
-36.333687278936E-12
-3.55.9527583054867E-12
-45.6332099574379E-12
-4.55.360151265618E-12
-55.1233029509276E-12
-5.54.9153099504673E-12
-64.7307520357409E-12
-6.54.5655350333373E-12
-74.4165008978121E-12
-7.54.2811693472382E-12
-84.1575616263579E-12
-8.54.0440772265708E-12
-93.9394057289427E-12
-9.53.8424625254362E-12
-103.7523411328608E-12