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 0.001 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]
01.9983044720517E-11
-0.51.583942650541E-11
-11.3524065206458E-11
-1.51.199600939732E-11
-21.0891028336955E-11
-2.51.0044150835952E-11
-39.3683703310105E-12
-3.58.8128839555607E-12
-48.3457740478159E-12
-4.57.9458456188853E-12
-57.5983991697907E-12
-5.57.2928767427141E-12
-67.0214731179751E-12
-6.56.7782768465497E-12
-76.5587176883741E-12
-7.56.3591991336064E-12
-86.1768469372785E-12
-8.56.0093327273252E-12
-95.8547475592826E-12
-9.55.7115095202746E-12
-105.5782950512449E-12