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 0.009 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]
08.0609863028788E-10
-0.56.5206452114838E-10
-15.6211246598938E-10
-1.55.0139290457818E-10
-24.5687544525315E-10
-2.54.2243712064153E-10
-33.9477104587645E-10
-3.53.7191380461877E-10
-43.526164112532E-10
-4.53.3604144207715E-10
-53.2160362623479E-10
-5.53.0887993799365E-10
-62.975560018209E-10
-6.52.8739265996936E-10
-72.7820431077732E-10
-7.52.6984441399536E-10
-82.6219551937072E-10
-8.52.5516223968324E-10
-92.486661929362E-10
-9.52.4264229311542E-10
-102.3703598418253E-10