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]
01.1888549354389E-10
-0.59.4529811304129E-11
-18.0828282806003E-11
-1.57.1755171756663E-11
-26.5180740537873E-11
-2.56.0135069857263E-11
-35.6104825240539E-11
-3.55.2789537046649E-11
-45.0000087538974E-11
-4.54.7610716362994E-11
-54.5534106567441E-11
-5.54.3707485261775E-11
-64.2084410870855E-11
-6.54.0629687308521E-11
-73.9316088934555E-11
-7.53.8122180570027E-11
-83.7030824593824E-11
-8.53.6028133036646E-11
-93.5102715955629E-11
-9.53.4245131920789E-11
-103.3447479372434E-11