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]
06.8288395985416E-10
-0.55.4523393555724E-10
-14.6710303799254E-10
-1.54.1513110751707E-10
-23.7736868197787E-10
-2.53.483337381164E-10
-33.2511120304331E-10
-3.53.0598915988318E-10
-42.8988747236461E-10
-4.52.7608650405608E-10
-52.6408584689002E-10
-5.52.5352530901992E-10
-62.4413813401216E-10
-6.52.357219828206E-10
-72.2812022116376E-10
-7.52.212094487721E-10
-82.1489095026777E-10
-8.52.0908468889096E-10
-92.0372499498042E-10
-9.51.9875741159002E-10
-101.9413634726665E-10