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]
06.7918408351828E-11
-0.55.3363204561837E-11
-14.5381695440293E-11
-1.54.0162868309792E-11
-23.6409947643523E-11
-2.53.3544328336501E-11
-33.1263746919871E-11
-3.52.9392881432692E-11
-42.7822123089058E-11
-4.52.6478961169799E-11
-52.5313258174551E-11
-5.52.4289091055923E-11
-62.3379957025065E-11
-6.52.2565818220717E-11
-72.1831205893018E-11
-7.52.1163962599056E-11
-82.0554383255661E-11
-8.51.9994613704177E-11
-91.9478220255232E-11
-9.51.8999875586353E-11
-101.8555125561698E-11