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 0.002 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]
01.211921603594E-10
-0.59.7531923622602E-11
-18.3869341324157E-11
-1.57.4700651250555E-11
-26.800272692404E-11
-2.56.2833980207668E-11
-35.8689045289774E-11
-3.55.5269190703158E-11
-45.2385010716182E-11
-4.54.9909837051532E-11
-54.7755323285886E-11
-5.54.5857720964617E-11
-64.4169721142655E-11
-6.54.2655376744526E-11
-74.1286818949152E-11
-7.54.0042063602112E-11
-83.8903504307952E-11
-8.53.7856851812918E-11
-93.6890371437219E-11
-9.53.5994324374432E-11
-103.5160551426381E-11