Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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]
01.4232782434927E-11
-0.51.1251072519109E-11
-19.5945864589499E-12
-1.58.5045093638057E-12
-27.7176093071549E-12
-2.57.1152150403894E-12
-36.6349245626068E-12
-3.56.2403770794875E-12
-45.9087634562224E-12
-4.55.6249551935912E-12
-55.3784700269751E-12
-5.55.1617848351314E-12
-64.9693415335358E-12
-6.54.7969328659705E-12
-74.6413076392028E-12
-7.54.4999083822198E-12
-84.3706919424757E-12
-8.54.2520037127769E-12
-94.1424875163732E-12
-9.54.0410197871788E-12
-103.9466606652568E-12