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]
01.4909745566277E-10
-0.51.1750782325407E-10
-11.0007083088488E-10
-1.58.8632542276707E-11
-28.0391248238352E-11
-2.57.4090338353126E-11
-36.907119037852E-11
-3.56.4950906008016E-11
-46.1489696716404E-11
-4.55.8528725329525E-11
-55.5958049931318E-11
-5.55.3698831548852E-11
-65.1692864630059E-11
-6.54.9896115821269E-11
-74.8274575169303E-11
-7.54.6801501291205E-11
-84.5455538787659E-11
-8.54.4219399243055E-11
-94.3078916688144E-11
-9.54.2022358041789E-11
-104.1039910983826E-11