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]
01.0364848215011E-10
-0.58.2211121405435E-11
-17.0215219166262E-11
-1.56.2292685119633E-11
-25.6561199246391E-11
-2.55.2167212688455E-11
-34.8660226424937E-11
-3.54.5777059281945E-11
-44.3352300324206E-11
-4.54.1276075548043E-11
-53.9472165344345E-11
-5.53.7885814222539E-11
-63.6476536413489E-11
-6.53.5213665011323E-11
-73.4073488171344E-11
-7.53.3037344194987E-11
-83.2090317787963E-11
-8.53.1220325413527E-11
-93.04174595534E-11
-9.52.9673509493963E-11
-102.8981605092648E-11