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 0.006 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]
03.9780772619616E-11
-0.53.0957154331144E-11
-12.6215921256603E-11
-1.52.3146038761387E-11
-22.0951253649287E-11
-2.51.9281839526827E-11
-31.795690226077E-11
-3.51.6872236436405E-11
-41.5963023317277E-11
-4.51.5186549245241E-11
-51.4513371010967E-11
-5.51.3922445814906E-11
-61.3398281374843E-11
-6.51.2929185110122E-11
-71.2506144212541E-11
-7.51.2122084418421E-11
-81.1771364887964E-11
-8.51.1449425164646E-11
-91.1152532904616E-11
-9.51.0877600057024E-11
-101.0622046574957E-11