Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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]
01.8114939639284E-10
-0.51.4596429137961E-10
-11.2559169997388E-10
-1.51.1190088222492E-10
-21.0189081893357E-10
-2.59.416159224349E-11
-38.796072336482E-11
-3.58.2842939450788E-11
-47.8525700927913E-11
-4.57.4819939514258E-11
-57.1593722826411E-11
-5.56.8751813952507E-11
-66.6223512250445E-11
-6.56.3955081637303E-11
-76.1904851871128E-11
-7.56.0039944733451E-11
-85.8334024288679E-11
-8.55.676571296742E-11
-95.5317452458953E-11
-9.55.3974668943804E-11
-105.2725151014323E-11